Kakooza breaks Mauritania hearts as Uganda qualify for quarter-finals
Substitute Derrick Kakooza’s ice-cold 88thminute penalty handed Uganda a 2-1 victory over hosts Mauritania at the Stade de Olympique in Nouakchott on Saturday as Uganda progressed to the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Both sides needed victory to assure passage to the last eight, but it was Uganda who would pick the ultimate prize coming from behind to win the tie and seal second spot. The host nation will now have to wait till the final round of Group C matches to know if they progress as one of the two best third-placed teams.
The Mauritanians went ahead in the first half via a Silly Sanghare penalty before Uganda equalized on the hour mark through Steven Sserwadda. Kakooza would then step off the bench to calmly slot a late penalty for his second goal of the tournament.
Despite dominating for most spells of the opening half and creating numerous scoring chances, Uganda went to the break trailing via a Sanghare penalty.
The Hippos did everything right in the opening half but score and were duly punished for their poor execution of chances. Mauritania’s star man Oumar Mbareck who had been quiet for most of the match was brought down inside the area by Abdu Azizi Kayondo with eight minutes left.
The fleet-footed winger picked the ball inside the box before switching to his lethal left foot and Kayondo duly tripped him as he prepared to pull the trigger.
Sanghare stepped up to the pressure plate and struck his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give the home side a valuable lead.
Uganda felt hard done by the goal as they were the better side all through.
Ivan Asaba was the dangerman for the CECAFA champions with his movement on the left causing all sorts of problems to the Mauritanians and within the opening nine minutes of the match he had already been fouled four times.