African Volleyball Championship: Uganda 3-1 Burkina Faso (25-15, 25-18, 26-28, 25-13)
The Uganda men’s volleyball team, Volleyball Cranes defeated Burkina Faso 3-1 to start the African Nations Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Cranes are appearing at the championship for the first time ever and have a good chance of making it out of the group.
New head coach Shilla Omuriwe Buyungo named a lineup of experienced and new blood to get the job done in the opening game.
Gideon Angiro and Sam Engwau got places in the starting team.
Angiro made a good account of himself in the absence of Cuthbert Malinga while Engwau impressed ahead of former captain Dickens Otim.
Uganda started on the front foot and got going through Daudi Okello and George Aporu’s powerful attack.
Through the middle, Bernard Malinga and Engwau were biting and Uganda took the first set 25-15.
In the second, things remained the same as Burkina Faso failed to get going.
The Cranes dominated to take the set 25-18 and only needed one more set to register their first ever win at this level.
Things turned round in the third set with Burkina Faso putting up a fight.
Uganda started making mistakes and poor defence on the net saw Burkina Faso take charge of the set.
The West African also improved their reception and went on to take the set 28-26 and force a fourth.
Uganda were back to their best and Allan Ejiet, who had replaced Aporu, offered more offence to the team.
Omuriwe’s troops went on to take the set 25-13 to win their first game.
Up next for the Cranes is a clash with Burundi before facing Rwanda in the last group game.
Join Betway now & enjoy betting on 100’s of markets with the most competitive odds on offer
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.