Ghana Vs Uganda: Uganda Cranes Oyee!

Total Africa Cup
Today, 7pm
Live on SS4/SS6
Uganda v Ghana
 
Choosing the greatest Cranes team in Uganda's illustrious football history is quite a challenge!

The side that marched all the way to the final in 1978 raised the bar so high that subsequent teams have had to live in its shadows for decades.

But on the balance of history and achievements, the class of 2016 feel tempted to consider themselves as the greatest of all-time in Uganda's football ranks.

They are Team of the Year and in Denis Onyango, boasts of Africa's award for Player of the Year based in Africa.

As expectations go, it is extremely difficult to explain the myriad of emotions that Cranes fans are going through here.

Some feel Cranes coach Micho Sredejovic is not just a manager but a miracle-worker that will see them through these finals.

The belief in the Serbian is unprecedented. The belief in the team is equally exceptional.

The hundreds of fans here -a majority of whom weren't born when Uganda last qualified for the finals -are more than convinced that the Cranes must stun Ghana in Port-Gentil today to preserve any interests in the tournament.

 
"We are Team of the Year and every team wants to beat us. But we have to be strong," one Cranes fan told New Vision.

Micho has not coached at the Africa Nations Cup tournament before.

The Serbian, just like the current Cranes squad that was born years after Uganda's last appearance at the finals, will be treading on unfamiliar ground next month.

But then again, both -players and manager -are aware of the demands that come with playing at the highest level -if the experience of competing at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) was worth its weight.

The body language of a majority of the team's players during an earlier session on Monday provided substantial proof that Cranes are determined to leave their mark here.

The team's preparations though were hampered with a dental problem on Denis Iguma.

Iguma didn't train earlier but could be cleared for a place on the bench.

Micho however has two major concerns. He must decide who will replace suspended players Murushid Juuko in defence and Khalid Aucho in midfield before deciding on which formation to play.

The obvious choices should be Hassan Wasswa and Mike Aziira although Geoffrey Kizito remains a strong candidate too for his preferred three-man midfield where Tony Mawejje is an automatic figure.

In attack, Cranes have to rely so much on the deft feet of youngster Farouk Miya.

Miya is an undisputed match-winner as he proved during Cranes historic 1-0 win against Comoros.

But there is only so much the youngster will do against a Ghanaian side that often closes spaces and tackles aggressively at the same time.

Miya will need help from that other efficient striker, who has surprisingly gone missing in Cranes previous fixtures -Geoffrey Massa.

Massa scored his first goal in over a year during Cranes' 3-1 friendly match win over Slovakia last week and there is a feeling that the team's captain will step to the plate yet again today.

During the team's media briefing on Monday, Micho emphasized that for all Ghana's might, the West Africans would still find his well-drilled side hard to crack.

The Serb is aware that any mistakes in the face of Ghana's three-man attack of Asamoah Gyan, Adre Ayew and Jordan Ayew will prove fatal.
Suffice it to say, that Cranes will not afford falling behind, because if they do, they might never recover as the Black Stars are masters possessing the ball.

If Cranes take the lead, it's possible they could hang on for a victory, but that only if they don't sit back and wait for chances rather than try to create them.

True, Cranes have frustrated the Black Stars in previous meetings.

But the Black are totally a different entity in championships like this. They are a tournament team, slow but fast on the break, patient but efficient on the break.

Ghana's central midfield utilizes a lone player Mubarak Wakaso, in front of the defence, with two playmakers Christian Atsu and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu ahead of him.

The face Micho has often presented in previous training sessions is the one he wants from his team today -animated, jovial, and full of self-belief but also determination.

Go Cranes!