Caesar Okhuti header in the 15th minute secured Uganda’s record 14th Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title following a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in the final in Addis Ababa on Saturday.
Okhuti rose up above the Amavubi defense to find the back of the net off a Dennis Okot cross to hand Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s side the lead in the first half at the National Stadium.
Farouk Miya almost doubled Uganda’s lead but his header went over the crossbar as the Cranes dominated possession and created more chances in front of goal.
Rwanda’s Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza then attempted a volley but it went wide as the Cranes went into the half time break with a well-deserved lead.
Amavubi looked the better side at the beginning of the second period with Jacques Tuyisenge going close with a shot on target but Ugandan goalkeeper Ismail Watenga saved it.
Miya then had another attempt from a corner kick but it was cleared before Mugiraneza’s long-range shot from outside the penalty box went wide off the mark.
Uganda held on to win their 14th Cecafa title in their 18th final. This was Micho’s first Cecafa title since taking over the Cranes three years ago.
The Cranes’ victory also rubber stamped their dominance in the region but more so their record over Rwanda having defeated them in 2003, 2009 and more recently in the 2011 final in Tanzania, winning 3-2 on penalties.
Rwanda has won the Cecafa title only once in 1999 when Rwanda B defeated Kenya 3-1 in the final in Kigali.
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