Morocco were simply too good – Uganda’s McKinstry

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Jan 28, 2021. 14:00

Uganda coach Johnathan McKinstry has lamented his side’s exit from the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, but admitted that their vanquishers, Morocco, were simply too good.

The Cranes kept up their unenviable record of never progressing beyond the group stage of the CHAN when they were beaten 5-2 by the Atlas Lions in midweek, with the result seeing the North African side join Rwanda in advancing to the quarterfinals.

Uganda needed to beat Morocco to move into the final eight of the continental tournament and had a lead midway through the first half thanks to Ibrahim Orit’s opener.

However, Morocco clicked through the gears and ultimately emerged comfortable victors on the back of strikes from Ayoub El Kaabi, Soufiane Rahimi (two), Hamza El Moussaoui and a Charles Lukwago own goal.

“Morocco were clinical and absolutely clinical. We gifted them a couple of goals but even when you give the ball to them in dangerous areas they have to put them in the net,” McKinstry was quoted by Goal.

“Congratulations to my counterpart and Morocco and we wish them the best for the rest of the tournament. Look, it was a game we all knew it was going to be very tough.”

McKinstry had no arguments against the penalty awarded for Morocco late in the first half which allowed El Kaabi to score his 10th career CHAN goal and turn the game.

“The penalty obviously could not come at the worst time but we have got no complaint whether it was a penalty because even my technical bench could not see what I saw from my position and so it was a fair enough call,” he explained.

“For the second goal, our young left-backs slept which again is very unfortunate and thereafter the game started to unravel.”