By: Sinan Rajub Senoga
Goals from Joseph Ochaya, Murushid Jjuuko and debutant Abraham Ndugwa were enough to hand Uganda an easy 3-1 victory against island nation Sao Tome and Principe at Namboole.
The Cranes tactician Sebastien Desabre named a predominantly foreign based line up in the first half with Vipers’ duo of Nicholas Wadada and Milton Karisa the only locally based players. Yeovil Town center back Bevis Mugabi was handed his debut.
Joseph Ochaya put the Cranes ahead with a rebound off a Nicholas Wadada cross from the right flank in the 23rd minute.
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Center back Murushid Jjuuko doubled the lead with a header from a well delivered Joseph Ochaya corner kick in the additional minutes of first half.
Come into the second half, Desabre made a four changes in the first 25 minutes. Yunus Sentamu, Abraham Ndugwa, Tadeo Lwanga and Alex Kakuba came on for Emmanuel Okwi, Kizito Luwaga, Godfrey Baba Kizito and Godfrey Walusimbi respectively.
In the 83rd minute, Abraham Ndugwa scored Cranes 3rd with a calm finish from a Yunus Sentamu exquisite pass. Ndugwa had came on in the 57th minute replacing an unproductive Kizito Luwaga.
Fahad Bayo was also handed a debut when he came on for Milton Karisa inside the last 10 minutes of the game. Bevis Mugabi who was timid on the day, paved way for Timothy Awany 2 minutes to normal time.
The visitors through Jose Varela pulled one back following a lapse in the Cranes defense in late kicks of the game.
The win was Cranes’ first under the tutelage of Frenchman Sebastien Desabre since taking over as head coach last December.
Uganda will play against Malawi in the second international friendly at Namboole on Tuesday 27th March at 4:00pm
Uganda Cranes XI ; Dennis Onyango, Nicolas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Bevis Mugabi, Murushid Jjuuko, Milton Karisa, Hassan Wasswa, Kizito Luwagga, Godfrey Baba Kizito, Joseph Ochaya, Emmanuel Okwi
Subs ; Yunus Sentamu (56′ Emmanuel Okwi), Abraham Ndugwa (57′ Kizito Luwaga), Tadeo Lwanga (67′ Godfrey Baba Kizito), Alex Kakuba (68′ Godfrey Walusimbi), Fahad Bayo (80′ Milton Karisa), Timothy Awany (88′ Bevis Mugabi)
Unused subs
Jamal Salim, Charles Lukwago, Hood Kaweesa, Derrick Nsibambi, Denis Iguma
Sao Tome and Principe XI ; Al Migida Aldair, Santos Gilson, Dasneves Enilson, Dilson Quaresma, Mendes Ivonalodo, Diogo Francisco, Sousa Pontes, Varalela Eduardo, Carvalho Jockeleny, Varela Jose, Baraganga Maquiadei
Subs; Tavares Janota (62′ Santos Gilson), Damara Aderito (62′ Diogo Francisco), Santos Adroir (66′ Carvalho Jockeleny), Vaz Nilson (68′ Al Migida Aldair), Costa Neto Vando (80′ Baraganga Maquiadei)
Unused subs:
Pondes Waidimir, Fernandes Edilson, Eusebio Danilson, Santos Damilson, Martins Traure