How Cranes can beat Burkina Faso

Nations Cup qualifier

Burkina Faso 1 Uganda 0

Comoros 1 Bostwana 0

Tomorrow, 7pm

Uganda v Burkina Faso

Group D

Team P W L D F A GD Pts

1 Burkina Faso 3 2 1 0 3 1 2 6

2 Uganda 3 2 1 0 3 1 2 6

3 Botswana 3 1 2 0 1 3 -2 3

4 Comoros 3 1 2 0 1 3 -2 3

When Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha called time on Uganda’s Nations Cup qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the 4-Aout 1983 Stadium in Ouagadougou, three Cranes sat on the pitch for minutes.

And that included midfielder Tony Mawejje.

Mawejje, and his other Cranes teammates, appeared distraught after the 1-0 defeat to the Stallions, and rightly so.

They had worked so hard and didn’t deserve to lose against a hapless Burkina Faso side that relied on a Jonathan Pitroipa penalty in the 59th minute to claim all three points.

But equally disturbing must have been the repercussions of the result to Cranes’ prospects in Group D, marching into tomorrow’s fixture.

As it is, Cranes, on six points must beat group leaders Burkina Faso, on six points, to preserve any hopes of progressing to the finals in Gabon.

Burkina Faso's national football team players pose prior to the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification football match between Burkina Faso and Uganda, on March 26, 2016, at the Stade du 4 aout stadium in Ouagadougou. / AFP / AHMED OUOBA

And that is very possible, if Cranes change their mindset and the coaching staff choose the right approach against a Stallions side that will certainly be there for the taking.

In Ouagadougou, Cranes chose a cautious approach to the game, waiting for the hosts to push up, with hope of penetrating them on the counter through Godfrey Walusimbi, Geoffrey Massa or Luwagga Kizito.

And from two perfectly weighted long balls, the Cranes could have taken the lead. The first opportunity fell to Luwagga Kizito on 16 minutes. The Portugal-based midfielder beat the Stallions’ off-side trap, chested the ball but lost control of the ball with just Burkina Faso goalkeeper Dauda Diakite to beat.     

Minutes later, Massa fed off Joseph Ochaya’s cross, but his well-placed header was ruled out for off-side.

But just as Cranes were gradually finding their rhythm, the hosts, riding on the silky skills of Prejuce Nakouma, crafted their best opportunities, mainly through Pitroipia.

Pitroipa forced Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango into a daring save before swerving a free-kick onto the cross bar minutes later.

Before then, and into the second half, Onyango, and the entire Cranes back-four supported with the likes of Mawejje, Luwagga and Aucho had done enough to close spaces around the 18-yard area where Pitroipa, Bertrand Traore normally run into to hurt the opposition.

However, in the 59th minute, the Cranes paid the price for playing too deep. Pitroipa found his way into the 18-yard, where Aucho, who found himself in unfamiliar territory, fouled him.

Pitroipa struck the resultant penalty in a half that also brought the best out of the two goalkeepers. Onyango saved twice from Nakouma, before Diakite stepped up to thwart Mawejje’s 35-yard strike.

 Burkina Faso's Johnathan Pitroipa scores a penalty against Uganda's goalkeeper Robert Odongkara

Although Cranes three changes Emmanuel Okwi (Walusimbi), Hamis Kiiza (Aucho) and Moses Oloya (Luwagga) couldn’t change the result, there is a lot to look forward to ahead of the return match tomorrow.

What next?

Tomorrow, to start with, the Cranes will have to opt for a 4-3-3 formation. The 4-4-2, normally thrives with wingers getting crosses into the 18-yard area.

 Burkina Faso team after a training session in Kampala on Sunday. PHOTOS: Moses Kigongo

On the evidence of the game in Ouagadougou, Walusimbi’s crosses didn’t seem to bother Burkina Faso. The team’s 6ft 2in defenders Bakary Kone and Bakare Sare were tall enough to deal with all aerial concerns.

Secondly, the Cranes will have to play with pace and force Konen and Sare into errors. There were moments when the back-four seemed uncomfortable with players running at them. When Okwi run at them, he was fouled. It’s strange the penalty wasn’t given.

With first choice goalkeeper Diakite limping off with an injury, there could be an opportunity with second choice Yacouba Coulibaly.

In Ouagadougou, Cranes sat so deep and paid the price.

At home, Cranes will be expected to attack from the start. If they choose a 4-3-3, it will allow more attacking and creative players on the pitch.

It’s surprising that Alain Traore started on the bench. Considering that Aristede Bance flopped on Saturday, Traore is likely to start tomorrow and that will give Burkina Faso mobility going forward. The left-footed Lorient playmaker can pack a powerful shot and is widely regarded as the Stallions’ deadliest player. The Cranes will need a game-plan to neutralize him.

Cranes ratings:

D.Onyango 7, D.Iguma 6, J.Ochaya 6, I.Isinde 7, M.Juuko 7, K.Aucho 5, K.Luwagga 6, T.Mawejje 7, G.Massa 7, F.Miya 5, G.Walusimbi 5