IFFHS CONTINENTAL STATS - CHAN DAY 10
Picture : Thabiso Kutumela (2 goals and one assist) is on fire !
Third co-hosts, Uganda within fringe of quarterfinals.
The Cranes have recovered from the day 1 slip-up when the Fennecs clipped their wings 0/3 to romp to two straight victories. It was a pulsating homecrowd at Namboole's Nelson Mandela National stadium Monday night that cheered them to a 2/0 defeat of Niger. The anxiety characterizing the early moments of the game got a twist in the 22nd minute following a penalty to punish Adamo Djibo's foul on Reagan Mpande in the box. Allan Okello's shot was blocked by the keeper but the kicker forged on to raise the curtains with a header. Two glaring chances for either team were trifled away by Jude Ssemugabi of Uganda in the 32nd minute, and by Nourou Yacouba for Niger in the 41st minute. However, Joel Sserunjogi made it a 2/0 win for Uganda with a brilliant volley just inside the box in the 56th minute. As captain Joel Mutakubwa lifted the mvp trophy, the Cranes had topped group C and justifiably now eye the quarterfinals.
Earlier on in the same setting, South Africa edged Guinea 2/1. The winners took the lead in the 10th minute through a swift left foot grounder by captain Neo Maema. Several attempts by both sides to change the situation were unproductive until the 36th minute when Moussa Camara posted the reply with an assist by captain Mohamed Bangoura. Nine minutes into the second half, in fairly the same timing as the first half, Jooste Wayde converted a goalkeeper Thabiso Kutumela assist. Guinea later laid claim to a fictitious penalty before a series of misses that landed them their second straight defeat.
This Tuesday, the fixtures will be Senegal vs Congo, Sudan vs Nigeria.