Hard earned away point in Niger

Oct 08, 2006

WHO needs Ibrahim Sekagya? Uganda Cranes, inspired by a Timothy Batabaire-led back four, overcame several controversial decisions to earn a priceless away point against Niger last night.

By Henry Mutyaba Katamba
in Niamey, Niger

Results

Uganda 0 Niger 0
Lesotho 0 Nigeria 1
Zambia 0 S. Africa 1
Botswana 0 Egypt 0
Cameroon 3 Eq.Guinea 0
Angola 3 Kenya 1
Mozambique 0 Tanzania 0
Burkina Faso 1 Senegal 0
Tunisia 1 Sudan 0


WHO needs Ibrahim Sekagya? Uganda Cranes, inspired by a Timothy Batabaire-led back four, overcame several controversial decisions to earn a priceless away point against Niger last night.

Centre referee Abdaul Diouf from Senegal had to be shielded off the pitch at the end of the scrappy engagement that had Cranes accumulate four yellow cards that amount to a $5000(sh9m) fine.

Worse still is the fact that Cranes will have to face Nigeria without lead forward Geoffrey Massa, who is suspended having gathered his second booking of the campaign.

Noah Kasule, Timothy Batabaire and Andrew Mwesigwa were the others booked for harmless tackles.

Yet despite all that, including the shock news minutes to kick-off that captain Sekagya who was being awaited actually played in Argentina the day before, Cranes performed with far better purpose than the hosts.

Despite the absence of Sekagya, who imprudently traded the Cranes tie for his club game on Saturday, Cranes applied themselves with decent diligence to snatch a point that however leaves them second.

Nigeria won away to Lesotho to go top.

Fullbacks Nestroy Kizito and Simeon Masaba nullified the threat posed by Niger’s wing play, while team custodian Denis Onyango worked similarly well in goal. Onyango imposed himself on the match with a spectacular save early in the first half.

Although Cranes’ scoring chances were occasional, David Obua should have done better in the dying minutes of the game.

The lanky midfielder failed to control Dan Wagaluka’s dipping shot from six-yards, with the Niger back-four already beaten. Massa also missed with just the keeper to beat.

“Under the conditions we played in, I am very happy with the point. We will continue to work hard in our remaining matches,” Cranes coach Laslo Csaba said after the game.

Cranes:
D.Onyango, S.Masaba, N.Kizito, T.Batabaire, A.Mwesigwa, N.Kasule, V.Kayizzi (Wagaluka), J.Bagoole, G.Massa, R.Sejjemba (Mubiru), D.Obua (Kadogo).

Group 3 standings
P W D L F A Pts

Nigeria 2 2 0 0 3 0 6
Uganda 2 1 1 0 3 0 4
Niger 2 0 1 1 0 2 1
Lesotho 2 0 0 2 0 4 0

Note: The 12 group winners and the best three runners-up from the 10 four-team pools earn places at the finals from January 20 to February 10 2008. Hosts Ghana qualify automatically

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