Innocent Ndawula & Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
29 June 2009
The Rugby Cranes bowed out of the 2011 Rugby World qualifiers after losing the return leg fixture 38-13 to Tunisia at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis on Saturday evening.
Uganda had played second fiddle to Tunisia in the first fixture in Kampala which they overwhelmingly lost 41-17 and needed a miraculous performance to overturn the result but it was not to be.
The two defeats suffered by South African tactician Chester Williams' and coach Yayiro Musisi Kasasa's charges means that Uganda loses the African Championship crown since the fixtures were concurrently used as 2009 Africa Cup semifinals. Uganda were the reigning Africa champions.
Tunisia scored first half tries from centre Amor Mazgar, scrum half Sabri Gmir and fly half Lofti Ben M'sallem to end any hopes of Uganda overturning the deficit.
Leading 25-8 at half time, Tunisia gave their home fans more to cheer about by crossing for two tries in the second half, the first from captain Kais Aissa before Gmir grabbed his second of the match. Prop Ronald Adigasi touched down for Uganda.
Tunisia will now play Namibia in the Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR) final in November. Namibia qualified after eliminating Ivory Coast (13-13 in the first leg and 54-15 at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium in the second leg).
The winner of the continent's showpiece will automatically qualify for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand as Africa 1. The loser proceeds to the cross-continental battle where teams will compete for the last remaining slot in a play-off final.
2011 RWC qualifiers
Results - Return leg
Tunisia 38-13 Uganda
Namibia 54-14 Ivory Coast
Results - First leg
Uganda 17-41 Tunisia
Ivory Coast 13-13 Namibia
Next Cranes fixture (Elgon Cup)
Uganda v Kenya at Kampala
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