Veteran striker Geoffrey Serunkuma ensured his longtime compatriot Denis Onyango started a new chapter as the full time captain of the Uganda Cranes in winning fashion.
Sserunkuma, local champions KCCA’s star man last season stepped off the bench to score the all-important goal as Uganda opened their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a priceless 1-0 away victory over Cape Verde on Sunday night.
After a short time of his introduction in place of SC Villa’s Emma, Okwi, Sserunkuma rolled in from close range Godfrey Walusimbi’s sweeping cross from the left on 83 minutes to score the only goal of the ill-fated game.
Uganda now top Group L with three points after the first match, with Tanzania and Lesotho, who drew 1-1 in Dar es Salaam a day earlier, on a point apiece.
The team arrives at Entebbe Airport on Tuesday at 3am.
Cape Verde XI: Vozinha (G.K), Tiago Almeida, Carlitos, Vally, Gege, Marcos Soares (59’ Ryan Mendes), Jamiro (76’ Helder), Garry Rodrigues, Ponck, Ze Luis, Julio Tavares (59’ Heldon)
Subs Not Used: Babanco, Kevin Oliveira Head coach: Lúcio Antunes
Uganda Cranes XI: Denis Onyango (GK) (C), Nicholas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Bernard Muwanga, Murushid Jjuuko, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Khalid Aucho, Faruku Miya, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (78′ Geofrey Sserunkuma), Derrick Nsibambi (94′ Denis Timothy Awany) and Isaac Muleme (46′ Milton Karisa)
Subs Not Used: Benjamin Ochan (GK), Isma Watenga (GK), Denis Okot, Robert Kaketo, Muhammad Shaban Head coach: Micho Sredejovic
