Mutakubwa shines and shuts the door in Uganda’s victory!”
In a fully packed Mandela National Stadium, with 34,180 fans shaking the stands, Uganda claimed a hard-fought and morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Niger, on a night when goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa shone brightly and was deservedly named man of the match.
The experienced BUL FC shot-stopper proved once again why he is Uganda’s undisputed number one in the CHAN 2024. With decisive saves, commanding interventions, and flawless reading of the game, Mutakubwa defended his goal “tooth and nail,” sending the crowd into raptures.
Across the 180 minutes played in the tournament so far, he has shown outstanding positioning, lightning-fast reflexes, and unshakable composure under pressure.
His presence inspires confidence in the backline and is crucial in aerial duels and distribution — qualities that make him a strategic pillar in Morley Byekwaso’s game plan.
After the match, the goalkeeper did not hide his emotions: “We thank God for this moment. It’s a moment I’ve worked hard for and, most importantly, for the three points we’ve earned.”
He was already looking ahead to the next challenge: “As we prepare for our next game, we know the threat South Africa poses, and we’re going back to regroup so we can handle that match.”
Mutakubwa also recalled the team’s difficult path so far:“Following the loss to Algeria in the first game, we know that every match we face is like a cup final, and we’re going to treat the next one the same way.”
Uganda’s victory also had the sparkle of Allan Okello, who opened the scoring and later delivered a sublime assist for the second goal, netted by Joel Sserunjogi. Okello, a natural playmaker, once again displayed his killer instinct and creative vision, drawing standing ovations from the fans, who acted as the true 12th man, driving the team to triumph.
The final whistle crowned not just the victory, but also Joel Mutakubwa’s monumental performance — a goalkeeper who stood like an unbreakable wall and continues to keep Uganda’s CHAN 2024 dream alive.
