AFCON: Uganda v Mali preview

TOTAL AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Today, 10pm

Uganda v Mali

Ghana v Egypt

(We shall build up to the game with live text commentary on the New Vision website starting 7.00pm Ugandan time)

Uganda's results so far have been as constant as the waves that roll over the Atlantic Ocean, a few miles from Port-Gentil, where Cranes were camped before.

And if you were among the Cranes fans that stormed Gabon confident of a faultless run at the Total Africa Nations Cup, you would be forgiven for waking up every day feeling the ocean breeze and hoping that Cranes' back-to-back 1-0 defeats were simply some kind of bad dream.

Just like their fans, the Cranes are still trying to come to terms with premature elimination from the tournament, more so considering that they had even marched into the championship as CAF Team of the Year.

"I thank the supporters for having given their best for us. The team also tried to give its best, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough to see us through," Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic stated.

However, although their final Group D fixture against Mali is inconsequential, the Cranes still have it all to play for.

"When we came here, we knew that we had to play three cup finals. We lost the first cup final with a penalty against Ghana, lost the second cup final against Egypt in the last minute. But our ambition remains that we want to go home with an element of pride and to win the game against Mali," said the Serbian tactician.

A win against the West Africans, who could still qualify with a win depending on the other group results, will not only reinstate faith among Cranes loyal army of fans, but also remind Africa of their real qualities - a majority of which have gone missing at the Total Africa Cup of Nations.

True, in the games against Ghana and Egypt, Cranes produced performances high on defensive quality, commitment and organization.

Their displays indeed proved that they have significantly reduced the gulf between them and the top African sides.

But then again, Cranes' main architects went missing in both games.

 
Apart from Geoffrey Massa who has yet to score, or even register a shot on goal, Farouk Miya, one of the youngsters being championed as the future of the national team, has barely had any significant contributions here.

But the pair could still redeem themselves tonight in Oyem. 

For Massa and Tony Mawejje, this game could have a lot of emotional attachment as there is a possibility that both might decide to call time on their national careers after this final group fixture.

Micho Sredojevic is an excellent tactician but will need to settle for the right system from the onset.

He changed formations three times during the 1-0 defeat to Ghana. But while Cranes' brilliant second half display against the Black Stars was attributed to the changes Micho made, it could also mean that he did that because he had started with the wrong players at the start.

At least, his game-plan against Egypt proved so.

Mali will be totally a different entity.

They get men behind the ball and with an average height of 6ft-plus, they play a physical game, making it hard for the opposition. There are only so many crosses and through-balls you can play.

Mali have a wealth of attacking riches, led by midfielders Salif Coulibaly and Hamari Traore on the wing.

If Cranes are to fight them off, they will have to stop the supply line to both Coulibaly and Traore if, as expected, the two start behind Crystal Palace striker Bakary Sako.

Cranes will also need to penetrate better down the flanks or create a pressure point that will open up Mali.

On the evidence of their games against Egypt and Ghana, the West Africans seem to struggle with pace.

If the Cranes can sustain a high-tempo game over 90 minutes with speedy merchants like Luwagga Kizito at the forefront, the Ugandans might just sign out of Gabon with their first win at the Total Africa Nations Cup.

Probable line-up:

Denis Onyango, Dennis Iguma, Joseph Ochaya, Hassan Wasswa, Murushid Juuko, Geoffrey Kizito, Luwagga Kizito, Khalid Aucho, Geoffrey Massa, Farouk Miya, Tonny Mawejje

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