Crucial tie for Cranes

Jul 19, 2014

Like any other Ugandan, the national team (Cranes) players are disturbed by their inability to win matches convincingly lately.

By Swalley Kenyi

Today: 2pm

Africa U-17 Championship Qualifier, Namboole

Second round, first leg

Uganda    v   Rwanda

5pm: Africa Cup of  Nations qualifier

Second round, first leg

Uganda    v       Mauritania

Like any other Ugandan, the national team (Cranes) players are disturbed by their inability to win matches convincingly lately.

The last time Uganda Cranes won a game with minimal trouble saw the team register a 4-0 scoreline against Congo Brazzaville in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2012.

The match was held at Mandela National Stadium Namboole, also venue for today’s game against Mauritania.
The teams will meet in the second round first leg of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s side will face Mauritania with concerns over the team’s lack of punch upfront.
The team’s recent games are clear testament to this problem.

Cranes drew goalless with Malawi on Tuesday, a few days after beating Seychelles 1-0 in international friendly matches.
Earlier on in the domestic friendlies, Sredojevic’s side registered marginal victories in Cranes na Mutima campaign in Mbarara and Soroti. 

Today’s game presents a fresh opportunity for Cranes to step up gear in a bid to advance to the next stage of the qualifiers.
The qualifiers will pave way for 2015 finals to be held in Morocco.

The current qualifying campaign is another perfect platform to end Uganda’s long absence at the finals of the continent’s premier soccer competition.

Uganda last appeared at the finals in Ghana in 1978.

But Cranes went down to the hosts 2-0 in the final.

Yesterday, Cranes technical staff and players expressed determination to produce a decent performance against
Mauritania.

“It will not be easy. We must go for early goals. I know they (Mauritania) will defend gallantly,” Cranes striker Geoffrey Massa said.

Before Cranes game, Uganda Cubs will face Rwanda in the Africa U-17 Championship. The second round, first leg is also due at Namboole.

Cranes probable line-up: D. Onyango, D. Iguma, G. Walusimbi, A. Mwesigwa,
I. Isinde, M. Oloya, J. Ochaya, I. Ntege, G. Kizito, B. Umony, G. Massa

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