Penalty shootouts is something the Cranes have to focus on a lot more in training prior to tournaments incase they are to firmly standout while competing at championship.
For the second successive time, the Cranes didn’t have luck on their side in a penalty shoot out, this time around losing 4-2 to hosts South Africa after a one all draw.
“In a game of football, you can never separate the element of lack, there is always luck. I can only say we have not been lucky in this tournament,” Cranes coach Abdallah Mubiru said after the game.
“Probably we could not have gone to the penalty shoot out, had we concentrated, we wasted so many chances,” he added.
Uganda and South Africa were competing in the plate semifinal in the 2019 COSAFA championship an encounter played at the Princess Magogo Stadium, Durban on Tuesday evening.
Daniel Mzee Sserunkuma gave the Cranes the lead a minute into the second half, Mondli Mpoto levelled for South Africa with 18 minutes left on the clock.
Both nations came close to adding to their goal following a number of opportunities created with Bafana Bafana coming more closer but were unlucky on a number of occasions, as Charles Lukwago always stood all in Cranes’ goal.
Following a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes, the game headed straight into penalties and like it was against Lesotho in the quarter finals, left back Mustafa Kiiza was the first to step in for the Cranes and missed his kick.
Midfielder Muzamir Mutyaba also missed his kick while Nicholas Kasozi and Shafiq Kagimu successfully slotted in.
On the other hand, Bafana Bafana converted all their kicks in to win 4-2, putting an end to Cranes’ COSAFA journey with no win.
Uganda Cranes XI: Charles Lukwago (G.K), Paul Willa, Mustafa Kizza, John Revita, Isaac Isinde (captain), Nicholas Kasozi, Michael Birungi, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Shafik Kagimu, Daniel Sserunkuma, Juma Balinya
Subs: James Alitho (G.K), Paul Mucureezi, Allan Kayiwa, Daniel Isiagi Opolot, Nelson Senkatuka, Musitafa Mujjuzi, Paul Mbowa, Bright Anukani, Hassan Musana
