Two goals in each half were enough to see Uganda Cranes kick start their 2019 Total Africa Cup of nations (AFCON) campaign in style with a 2-0 win over Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.
The win at the Cairo International Stadium courtesy of goals from Patrick Henry Kaddu and Arnold Emmanuel Okwi take the Cranes top of Group A above hosts Egypt who beat Zimbabwe 1-0 on Friday.
“This has been a good start and we need to keep fighting,” assistant skipper Hassan Wasswa Mawanda said after the game.
Cheered on by 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja (representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni), minister of Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda, state minister for Sports, Charles Bakabulindi, National Council of Sports officials and a couple of members of parliament, the hungry Cranes did not disappoint.
Farouk Miya who had a good day in office delivered a good corner for Kaddu to nod in after 14 minutes, before Okwi also headed in another Miya cross after 48 minutes.
Kaddu should have made it 2-0 after 36 minutes but his header with only goalkeeper to beat missed the target.
DR Congo lead by England based Yannick Bolasie Youssouf Mulumbu failed to get their act together as Uganda Cranes dominated play in all departments.
Head coach Sebastien Desabre said he was happy that they started the tournament with a win. Uganda will next face Zimbabwe on Wednesday.