Ugandan champions Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC) got off to a flying start at home in their 2017 Total CAF Confederation Cup Group A campaign on Tuesday with a 2-1 Tunisia’s Club Africain.
Goals from young forward Derrick Nsibambi and midfielder Tom Masiko in either half meant KCCA has won three-quarters of their CAF matches at home – the Philip Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
After two games, Tuesday’s win sees KCCA upto three points with Club Africain and FUS Rabat of Morocco. Mike Mutebi’s team lost the opening game against FUS Rabat in Nort Africa 3-0 while Club Africain won their opening game against Rivers United 3-1 in Tunisia.
It was a quick start for Club Africian who took the lead after only nineteen minutes thanks to a strike from Mokhtar Belkhither.
But KCCA gave themselves some hope when they pulled a goal back in the 45th minute courtesy of a Derrick Nsibambi header.
The Ugandan side asserted their dominance and doubled their lead in the 62nd minute after a goal from Tom Masiko.
The home side took their foot off the pedal in the second half and rarely threatened the Club Africian’s goal.
The Tunisian side, on the other hand, offered nothing in attack as KCCA picked up the win and vital three points and Mike Mutebi called the game remarkable.
Mutebi said, “We (KCCA) played well. Tactically there are so many positives – I would like to call it a fantastic game, our best match of the season.”
“At any level, that’s a really a great game. What we did, we were in command of the midfield from the word go. My players did so well, disorganising their taller opponents. I am happy that we have belief in our team, that belief that we can compete and win against the best in Africa.
“The most important player on the day was Allan Okello. Before he got off, the team was thinking. We had belief that we can play the best on the continent. We did not score accidental goals, they were constructive.”
On the flip side, Club Africian coach Chiheb Ellili acknowledged that his side had made mistakes in the game but promised to bounce bank in their next game against FUS Rabat in Morocco.
He said, “We scored before them but later did many mistakes, my players were losing possession and making wrong choices. My players had lost freshness, the fitness levels dropped as the game progressed.
KCCA won because they made fewer mistakes and tactical problems. We knew that KCCA would react after we made it clear that we had come to Kampala for the three points.”
KCCA are next in action after a week at home against Rivers United of Nigeria who plays FUS Rabat on Wednesday Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
