Egypt’s Al Ahly FC Come from Behind to beat Kitara FC 2-1 in CAF Confederation Cup Qualifier
Hoima, Uganda I URN | The new Hoima stadium was jam-packed with fans and showed yet again it can host major tournaments despite defeat for the home side.
Al Ahly Football Club from Egypt came from behind to beat Uganda’s Kitara FC 2-1 away from home in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup Second Preliminary Round tie on Saturday evening.
The second-half goals from Omar Al-Saai and Ahmed Sayed Zizo overturned a first-half lead given to Kitara by Gaddafi Wahab at the Hoima City Stadium.
The victory gives Al Ahly a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg in Cairo on 25 October, when the two sides will compete for a place in the group stage. Kitara football club first took the lead against Al Ahly in the 30th minute when Wahab converted a cross and fired beyond goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
The Hoima-based team maintained their advantage until half-time despite further pressure from the experienced Al Ahly FC.
However, in the 67th minute Al-Saai managed to challenge Kitara’s defenders, firing past the goalkeeper hence securing their first goal.
Later in the 79th minute, Akram Tawfik from Al Ahly FC was brought down inside the penalty area prompting the Center Referee to award the visiting team a penalty Kick that was eventually converted into a goal by Ahmed Sayed Zizo putting the visitors into the lead.
Al Ahly will now seek to guard their victory and secure qualification for the 16-team group stage, while Uganda’s Kitara FC must produce a positive result away from home to keep their continental campaign alive.
Wasswa Bbosa, Kitrara FC Coach says, he is optimistic despite the defeat, stating that his team could overturn the game in the return leg. He says, they will work on improving the mistakes made in the first encounter in the remaining days to ensure that in the return leg they deliver success.
Kitara secured their place in the Round of 32 after eliminating Somalia’s Mogadishu City FC 4-1 on aggregate.
Both legs were played at Hoima City Stadium, with Jimmy Kalema scoring three goals and Frank “Zagga” Tumwesigye adding another as the Royals advanced.
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