Return leg September 19
Al Merrikh Vs Express
Omdurman Al Merrikh Stadium
Express coach Wasswa Bbosa is confident the club can seal progress to the next round of the
Caf Champions League despite holding a slender lead going into the second leg.
The Red Eagles go into Sunday’s encounter against Sudanese side El Merreikh with a slim 2-1 first leg advantage picked at the St. Mary’s stadium in Kitende last Friday.
“We’ve prepared well and we shall definitely do a good job, the team is aware about the job at hand and they all want to progress to the first round so we hope we arrive safely and execute the game plan,” Bbosa observed before the team’s departure early on Wednesday morning.
Bbosa’s confidence could be derived from several goal scoring opportunities created as their Sudanese opponents struggled to match Eric Kambale’s aerial prowess and movement.
The striker gave the Red Eagles a seventh minute lead after latching onto Martin Kizza’s flicked header to lift the ball confidently over the despairing Merreikh goalkeeper’s dive.
There was also another opportunity in the early stages when he was played through on goal by Muzamir Mutyaba only to slip as he bore down on goal.
Midfielder Mahad Kakooza also saw his pile driver raze the crossbar and forward Joseph Akandwanaho saw a header wide late on.
All the players from the first leg team have travelled including Goeffrey Lwesibawa who combined with Martin Kizza for the team’s second goal that turned out to be the winner.
Express are returning to the Caf Champions League for the first time since 1997 while they have entirely not been on the continent since featuring in the Caf Confederation Cup in 2008.
THE TRAVELING SQUAD.
GOALKEEPERS: Joel Mutakubwa, Denis Otim.
DEFENDERS: Denis Mubuya, Enock Walusimbi (C), Murushid Juuko, Arthur Kiggundu, Issa Lumu.
MIDFIELDERS: Abel Michael Etrude, Yaya Mahad Kakooza, Daniel Shabene, John Byamukama, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Martin Kizza, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Joseph Akandwanaho, Charles Musiige.
FORWARDS.
George Senkaaba and Erick Kambale.
OFFICIALS.
Head Coach – Wasswa Bbosa
Assistant Coach – James Odoch
Goalkeeper Coach – Daniel Kiwanuka
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