30 March 2016

This could be the end of it for Cranes, again

Uganda Crane’s Geofrey Massa in action against Kone Bakary of Burkina Faso at Mandela Stadium, Namboole, during the 2017 Afcon Qualifiers. Photo by Ismail Kezaala 




Kampala. The fans remained stunned into silence, in utter disbelief, upon full time whistle. A mere point from Uganda Cranes’ goalless draw against Burkina Faso felt it just was not enough.
The home crowd felt they had deserved more from the result of Match Day 4 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Qualification campaign.
They descended the silent Namboole Stadium in small numbers. The fall of a pin could be heard in almost all parts of the Cranes’ backyard.






The pain felt had the Cranes’ players crestfallen on the ground, hands covering the eyes. Campaign code name ‘Mujje Tulumbe’ had faded within thin air.







Uganda fans cheer their players against Burkina Faso at Mandela Stadium, Namboole, during the 2017 Afcon Qualifiers on March 29, 2016. Photo by Ismail Kezaala



Celebrations were only evident at the Burkinabe technical area as coach Paulo Duarte, his staff and substitutes hugged. Some of the most heartbroken fans consoled themselves by either chatting it away or chasing a stubborn dog around as the stadium emptied.





The stadium DJ attempted to play music, only to be halted by emcee Patrick Luwandagga through the microphone. The aura of ‘we would have won this’ hovered the terraces. Two chances that needed simple tap-ins or composure had been blown away at will. Moses Oloya’s squandered opportunity in the penultimate stage of the five minutes was the peak of the misery.
Moments after Burkinabe skipper Charles Kabore had been sent off for quick bookings as adrenaline surged, fellow substitute Erisa Ssekisambu laid up for Oloya from the left only for the Vietnam-based midfielder to collect poorly from five yards.
It’s this that epitomized yet another unlucky day for the Cranes.






Nearly from the same spot, Farouk Miya had also poorly timed and the ball went over the bar midway the second stanza. Prior, Tonny Mawejje’s shot had hit the cross bar in the opening 15 minutes of encounter. What better chances would Cranes have asked for?






dkyeyune@ug.nationmedia.com






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