Uganda held by Gambia in friendly

By James Bakama

Friendly match result

Uganda 1 Gambia 1

 Saturday AFCON qualifier

Uganda v Botswana


Uganda was held to a 1-1 draw by Gambia in a friendly match at Namboole Stadium on Tuesday.

Second half substitute Robert Ssentongo put the Cranes ahead in the 61st minute. The Azam Uganda Super League top scorer’s marksmanship was again on display as he headed in from a goal-mouth melee.

But the calm visitors clawed their way back to level matters after a defensive lapse by upcoming defender Shafique Bakaki 12 minutes later.

Omar Jagne tapped the ball away from a relaxed Bakaki deep in Uganda’s half before firing the ball past substitute goalkeeper Robert Odongkara.

The match was a build-up for Saturday’s African Cup of Nations Cup game against Botswana.

Cranes Coach Milutin Sredojevich will however have to be more attack-minded if he is to get off to a winning start in the continental qualifiers.

After Ssentongo’s goal,  Sredojevich took off strikers Geoffrey Massa and Yunus Sentamu and strengthened his rear guard.

This was underlined by eight defensive players, prompting questions on Sredojevich’s attacking ambitions ahead of the Botswana game.

Uganda needs an outright win if it is to keep alive its dream of qualifying for its first Nations Cup final tournament since 1978.