In the Total CAF Champions League first round decisive encounter between Ethiopian champions Kidus Giorgis and Ugandan champions KCCA ended in a barren draw. The Kampala based club was superior when it comes to getting shots on target while Kidus Giorgis failed to show up for the possession they had for the majority of the time.
A magnificent and electrifying atmosphere in Addis Ababa Stadium was the highlight of the game as coach Manuel Vaz Pinto gave the nod Malian forward Amara Malle, who made his debut for Kidus Giorgis, while a stomachache forced Muhammad Shaban to be benched for KCCA.
Kidus Giorgis possessed the ball but created few scoring chances to cause harm to the visitors. Asechalew Tamene headed out a perfect Abebaw Butako’s free kick delivery in the 5th minute. Three minutes later KCCA went the closest to take the lead when Paul Mucureezi dispossessed Mulualem Mesfin and strike but Robert Odongkara was equal to the task. In the 16th minute a space opened up for Derrick Nsibambi to unleash a shot on goal as Odongkara made another save. KCCA looked more dangerous in their swift counter attacks when Nsibambi releases Mucureezi to get into the box however Asechalew Tamene did great to clear the ball out. Mulualem headed over the cross bar from a corner kick for the homers close scoring chance of the interval.
In the second half the Horsemen struggled to create scoring opportunities. Gadissa Mebrate twice shot off target from range in the 49th minute and hour mark. In the 64th minute Nsibambi was unlucky to see his heading effort rattling the cross bar.
Salahdin Said made a return to action after a long layoff with injury and he should have broken the deadlock in the 77th minute when he heads wide a perfect Behailu Assefa cross. KCCA’s backline manage to keep the home side at bay for the reminder of the game as they take a good result back to Kampala.
Kidus Giorgis’s poor league form persisted on the continental stage. They have now to overcome KCCA in the return leg in Kampala next week, if they seek another appearance in the Champions League group stages.
