Kan-U believe this...Uganda pips Nigeria
Jun 03, 2007
LASZLO Csaba and his immortals scripted a fairytale to surpass all classics after resurrecting from death to scalp Nigeria 2-1 at Namboole. In a Nations Cup qualifier that shook African football to its very foundations, Geoffrey Massa cast himself in the role of Prince Charming by winning the two pe
By Joseph Opio
Uganda 2 Nigeria 1
Niger 2 Lesotho 0
LASZLO Csaba and his immortals scripted a fairytale to surpass all classics after resurrecting from death to scalp Nigeria 2-1 at Namboole.
In a Nations Cup qualifier that shook African football to its very foundations, Geoffrey Massa cast himself in the role of Prince Charming by winning the two penalties that inspired a 10-man Cranes past the much-heralded Super Eagles.
This historic triumph owed as much to Massa’s admirable trait of chasing lost causes as it did to Csaba’s tactical genius.
Twice, Massa raced after hopeful, over-hit passes he had no right to chase. And twice, panic-ridden Nigerians clumsily manhandled him.
Opportunistic Massa
Both penalties paid a glowing tribute to Massa’s opportunism. Both penalties though wouldn’t have been earned without the unhurried, cerebral tactics of Csaba. The German had entered the qualifier with an attack-conscious 4-4-2 formation.
However, this tactic appeared doomed to fail when Nigeria’s Berti Vogts opted for the negative 4-5-1 formation — narrowing the battle-ground and robbing Cranes of creative space.
Vogts deployed Yakubu Aiyegbeni as a lone-ranger — with a troop of midfielders behind him.
Natural centre-half Joseph Yobo was converted into an anchorman, alongside another destroyer, Oye Okwonko.
Vogts’ tactic relied on ball retention and Kanu Nwankwo’s creativity.
Csaba seemed thorougly outfoxed and outwitted!
Csaba the Iceman
In that one-sided tactical battle, Csaba, along with his tactical bearings, got a few other things wrong!
His high-risk decision to start Richard Malinga in preference to Simeon Masaba was backfiring in spectacular fashion while his most assured ball-player, Ibra Sekagya had gifted Nigeria the opener in an uncharacteristic moment of indecision.
This is where Csaba’s ice-cool persona earns its credit! With an entire game-plan going haywire, lesser mortals would have pressed the panic-button and deployed a scatter-gun substitution policy. Not Csaba!
The German made the only substitution required — withdrawing Malinga for Masaba. Csaba retained faith in his nullified 4-4-2; confirming his temperament. Yet if Csaba the Iceman earned his spurs soon after recess, Csaba the Lion-Heart came to the fore when he lost his most creative avenue after Obua pulled an hamstring in celebration.
The Grand-master
When the Kaizer Chiefs ace limped off, a risk-free but spineless move would have had Csaba protecting what he had and introducing a defender.
Instead — in an advert for adventurism that mocked Vogts’ negativity — Csaba traded Obua for the marauding Vincent Kayizzi.
Even after that substititution was rewarded with Uganda racing ahead, Csaba’s tactical acumen still came under the microscope when anchorman, Noah Kasule was red-carded.
Popular opinion was that surely, Csaba would protect what he had this time. But, in a decision to gladden football purists, Csaba — instead of scampering for a replacement defensive shield — threw on Hassan Mubiru.
Vogts was at once check-mated. And Csaba, the Grand-master was born.
Ugandans might have endured the ‘longest 20 minutes’ in history thereafter.
More nails might have been bitten per square metre in Namboole than anywhere else on the universe.
And Dennis Onyango might have had as wretched a time with crosses as Count Dracula.
But in the end, the Cranes authored a happy ending to the most riveting fairytale ever — ensuring every Ugandan lived happily thereafter.
Standings
Group 3 P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria 4 3 0 1 5 2 9
Uganda 4 2 1 1 5 2 7
Niger 4 1 1 2 2 5 4
Lesotho 4 1 0 3 3 7 3
* All 12 Group leaders and best 3 runners-up qualify
Uganda 2 Nigeria 1
Niger 2 Lesotho 0
LASZLO Csaba and his immortals scripted a fairytale to surpass all classics after resurrecting from death to scalp Nigeria 2-1 at Namboole.
In a Nations Cup qualifier that shook African football to its very foundations, Geoffrey Massa cast himself in the role of Prince Charming by winning the two penalties that inspired a 10-man Cranes past the much-heralded Super Eagles.
This historic triumph owed as much to Massa’s admirable trait of chasing lost causes as it did to Csaba’s tactical genius.
Twice, Massa raced after hopeful, over-hit passes he had no right to chase. And twice, panic-ridden Nigerians clumsily manhandled him.
Opportunistic Massa
Both penalties paid a glowing tribute to Massa’s opportunism. Both penalties though wouldn’t have been earned without the unhurried, cerebral tactics of Csaba. The German had entered the qualifier with an attack-conscious 4-4-2 formation.
However, this tactic appeared doomed to fail when Nigeria’s Berti Vogts opted for the negative 4-5-1 formation — narrowing the battle-ground and robbing Cranes of creative space.
Vogts deployed Yakubu Aiyegbeni as a lone-ranger — with a troop of midfielders behind him.
Natural centre-half Joseph Yobo was converted into an anchorman, alongside another destroyer, Oye Okwonko.
Vogts’ tactic relied on ball retention and Kanu Nwankwo’s creativity.
Csaba seemed thorougly outfoxed and outwitted!
Csaba the Iceman
In that one-sided tactical battle, Csaba, along with his tactical bearings, got a few other things wrong!
His high-risk decision to start Richard Malinga in preference to Simeon Masaba was backfiring in spectacular fashion while his most assured ball-player, Ibra Sekagya had gifted Nigeria the opener in an uncharacteristic moment of indecision.
This is where Csaba’s ice-cool persona earns its credit! With an entire game-plan going haywire, lesser mortals would have pressed the panic-button and deployed a scatter-gun substitution policy. Not Csaba!
The German made the only substitution required — withdrawing Malinga for Masaba. Csaba retained faith in his nullified 4-4-2; confirming his temperament. Yet if Csaba the Iceman earned his spurs soon after recess, Csaba the Lion-Heart came to the fore when he lost his most creative avenue after Obua pulled an hamstring in celebration.
The Grand-master
When the Kaizer Chiefs ace limped off, a risk-free but spineless move would have had Csaba protecting what he had and introducing a defender.
Instead — in an advert for adventurism that mocked Vogts’ negativity — Csaba traded Obua for the marauding Vincent Kayizzi.
Even after that substititution was rewarded with Uganda racing ahead, Csaba’s tactical acumen still came under the microscope when anchorman, Noah Kasule was red-carded.
Popular opinion was that surely, Csaba would protect what he had this time. But, in a decision to gladden football purists, Csaba — instead of scampering for a replacement defensive shield — threw on Hassan Mubiru.
Vogts was at once check-mated. And Csaba, the Grand-master was born.
Ugandans might have endured the ‘longest 20 minutes’ in history thereafter.
More nails might have been bitten per square metre in Namboole than anywhere else on the universe.
And Dennis Onyango might have had as wretched a time with crosses as Count Dracula.
But in the end, the Cranes authored a happy ending to the most riveting fairytale ever — ensuring every Ugandan lived happily thereafter.
Standings
Group 3 P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria 4 3 0 1 5 2 9
Uganda 4 2 1 1 5 2 7
Niger 4 1 1 2 2 5 4
Lesotho 4 1 0 3 3 7 3
* All 12 Group leaders and best 3 runners-up qualify