An emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Congo Brazzaville has sent Uganda Cranes to the next round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
A 34th minute header from skipper Andy Mwesigwa and a Geoffrey Walusimbi penalty early in the second half were followed by solo efforts from Geoffrey Massa and Emma Okwi late in the game to send the Cranes through on a 5-3 aggregate win.
Uganda needed a 2-0 win to advance after losing to the Congolese team 3-1 in Brazzaville two months ago.
Mwesigwa, who was a doubt early in the day after picking up an injury against Senegal last weekend, commanded the team and opened the scores from a Walusimbi corner.
In the 50th minute, Walusimbi was on hand to convert a penalty after Brian Umony was brought down in the box by Congolese defender Bruce Abdulaye, who was booked for the foul. Walusimbi also scored a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Senegal in a 2014 World Cup qualifier game last weekend.
The dominant Cranes continued to take matters in their hands and their attack-minded possession paid off in the 64th minute when Massa picked the ball just beyond the centre line, ran clear past two players and riffled in a shot that gave the Congolese keeper no chance.
From this time on, there was no stopping Uganda as the Cranes continued their dominance. Emma Okwi’s 87th minute solo effort came as no surprise. The midfielder literally walked the ball into the net after rounding off three players and the goalkeeper.
Cranes coach Bobby Williamson told URN before the game that the game was very tough for the Cranes, but that he was also banking on the crowd in the 45,000 capacity stadium. The fans did not disappoint.
