CHAN newcomers Togo upset Uganda, Rwanda hold misfiring Morocco Douala (AFP) – Togo overcame the absence of coronavirus-hit coach Jean-Paul Abalo to upset Uganda 2-1 Friday and boost hopes of reaching the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals at the first attempt.
A Paul Mbowa own-goal gave Togo an early second-half lead in Cameroon Atlantic city Douala only for Ugandan Saidi Kyeyune to equalise just three minutes later through a 40-metre thunderbolt.
Togolese Yendoutie Nane scored the match-winner on 57 minutes with a looping half-volley that dropped behind goalkeeper Charles Lukwago.
It was among the best group matches of the 14 so far in the tournament for home-based footballers and compensated spectators for a dull 0-0 draw between title-holders Morocco and Rwanda a few hours before.
Daily Monitor
Saturday January 23 2021
Summary
What then for McKinstry who is already halfway into his three-year contract? The statistics say he has been in charge of 16 games, drawing thrice and losing only once, which is quite impressive, I must say.
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I believe that Johnny McKinstry will have started to confirm by now that managing the Uganda Cranes is at once a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because it’s comparatively a nice and well supported job. No other branch of sport in Uganda generates as much interest or gets as much attention as the Cranes.
That interest normally translates into preferential budget allocations and sponsorships and the Cranes is easily the best funded and well-run sports outfit in the country by far.
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Changes for Togo tie Andrew Mwanguhya Tomorrow will significantly dictate Uganda’s direction at the sixth edition of the African Nations Championship (Chan) finals in Cameroon. Coach Johnny McKinstry and his home-based players should perhaps plug into Eminem’s Lose Yourself to psych themselves up for the job at hand. One opportunity “Look,” goes the American rapper, “If you had one shot, or one opportunity. To seize everything you ever wanted. “In one moment. Would you capture it or just let it slip?” Tomorrow’s crunch Group C game against Chan debutants, Togo - who will also be looking for a lease of life after going down to Morocco in their opener - is that one opportunity. The Cranes, who drew goalless with Rwanda on Monday night, must win if they are to go into the final group game against defending champions Morocco next week with a big chance of progressing. And for that to happen McKinstry will need his best players to come to the part
Uganda v Togo â Mission: First victory
Uganda had a draw while Togo lost their first match of the ongoing Total African Nations Championship (CHAN), Cameroon 2020. They are locking horns in the Group D matchday 2 at Reunification Stadium in Douala on Friday (22 November 2021) with one mission in mind: First victory.
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Cranes are appearing in CHAN for the fifth time. They sought a win against Rwanda in their opener but had to settle for a goalless draw, which their Northern Irish coach Johnny McKinstry looked to accept. But now they are aiming for victory against debutants Togo if they are to keep their second-round qualification hopes alive.
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Yahya Jabrane converted a retaken penalty to give Morocco a 1-0 victory over Togo Monday in Douala as they seek to become the first back-to-back winners of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In the second match of a Group C double-header at the Stade Reunification in the Cameroonian economic capital, Rwanda and Uganda drew 0-0.
Jabrane had his first spot-kick saved by Abdoul-Moubarak Aigba, but the goalkeeper moved forward off his line before the penalty was taken.
Aigba dived to his right again when the kick was retaken on 27 minutes, but Jabrane planted the ball into the unguarded side of the goal.