Senegal referee denies Uganda Cranes
Mar 25, 2007
HOW brutal, how cruel, how unfair! Even the Nigerian stars were ashamed of the 90th minute decision by Senegalese referee Badara Diatta to cancel a Geoffrey Sserunkuuma equaliser for Cranes. The referee claimed there was an infringement in the box.
By Fred Kaweesi
in Abeokuta
Group 3 results
Nigeria 1 Uganda 0
Lesotho 3 Niger 1
HOW brutal, how cruel, how unfair! Even the Nigerian stars were ashamed of the 90th minute decision by Senegalese referee Badara Diatta to cancel a Geoffrey Sserunkuuma equaliser for Cranes. The referee claimed there was an infringement in the box.
“The referee’s decision was unfortunate for African football. The Ugandans were unlucky,†admitted Obafemi Martins while Osaze Odemwingie adde: “Uganda was unlucky because they were the best team.â€
The performance of the hapless Senegalese referee Diatta took the gloss off a breathtaking game at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Tactically, it was one of Cranes’ best away performances in years.
Cranes set about their work at full throttle, asserting themselves in pursuit of that historic result they had been assigned.
David Obua in particular was eagerness personified on Saturday night, fashioning several opportunities that nearly helped Uganda to precious strikes.
Coach Laszlo Csaba’s game-plan that had Ibrahim Sekagya drafted into the midfield defensive role ahead of centre backs Andrew Mwesigwa and Timothy Batabaire paid off.
The German’s decision to drop Johnson Bagoole suggested Cranes would wind to a 3-5-2 formation when in possession and redesign to a 5-3-2 when under pressure. It provided numbers at the heart and bottom of Cranes midfield and all Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins would rely on for service was the long ball.
Such was the nimble defiance of Sekagya, arguably man-of-the-match that John Obi Mikel failed to find the usual rhythm that has slowly secured him cult-status at Chelsea.
Noah Kasule, Obua, Kayizzi, and Hassan Mubiru’s darting movements filled fullbacks Taye Taiwo and Isaac Okoronkwo with indecision.
A late Nwankwo Kanu goal gave Berti Vogts a winning start as Nigeria coach.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria laboured through the encounter before Portsmouth striker Kanu scored from close range with 17 minutes left after Uganda failed to clear a corner taken by Mikel.
Late results
Senegal 4 Tanzania 0
Kenya 2 Swaziland 0
Chad 0 South Africa 3
Cameroon 3 Liberia 1
Mauritius 1 Sudan 2
Zimbabwe 1 Morocco 1
Madagascar 0 Ivory Coast 3
Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria 3 3 0 0 4 0 9
Uganda 3 1 1 1 3 1 4
Lesotho 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
Niger 3 0 1 2 0 5 1
Remaining matches:
On June 2
In Kampala
Uganda v Nigeria
In Niamey
Niger v Lesotho
On June 16
In Maseru
Lesotho v Uganda
In Niamey
Niger v Nigeria
On September 8-9:
In Lagos
Nigeria v Lesotho
In Kampala
Uganda v Niger
in Abeokuta
Group 3 results
Nigeria 1 Uganda 0
Lesotho 3 Niger 1
HOW brutal, how cruel, how unfair! Even the Nigerian stars were ashamed of the 90th minute decision by Senegalese referee Badara Diatta to cancel a Geoffrey Sserunkuuma equaliser for Cranes. The referee claimed there was an infringement in the box.
“The referee’s decision was unfortunate for African football. The Ugandans were unlucky,†admitted Obafemi Martins while Osaze Odemwingie adde: “Uganda was unlucky because they were the best team.â€
The performance of the hapless Senegalese referee Diatta took the gloss off a breathtaking game at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Tactically, it was one of Cranes’ best away performances in years.
Cranes set about their work at full throttle, asserting themselves in pursuit of that historic result they had been assigned.
David Obua in particular was eagerness personified on Saturday night, fashioning several opportunities that nearly helped Uganda to precious strikes.
Coach Laszlo Csaba’s game-plan that had Ibrahim Sekagya drafted into the midfield defensive role ahead of centre backs Andrew Mwesigwa and Timothy Batabaire paid off.
The German’s decision to drop Johnson Bagoole suggested Cranes would wind to a 3-5-2 formation when in possession and redesign to a 5-3-2 when under pressure. It provided numbers at the heart and bottom of Cranes midfield and all Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins would rely on for service was the long ball.
Such was the nimble defiance of Sekagya, arguably man-of-the-match that John Obi Mikel failed to find the usual rhythm that has slowly secured him cult-status at Chelsea.
Noah Kasule, Obua, Kayizzi, and Hassan Mubiru’s darting movements filled fullbacks Taye Taiwo and Isaac Okoronkwo with indecision.
A late Nwankwo Kanu goal gave Berti Vogts a winning start as Nigeria coach.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria laboured through the encounter before Portsmouth striker Kanu scored from close range with 17 minutes left after Uganda failed to clear a corner taken by Mikel.
Late results
Senegal 4 Tanzania 0
Kenya 2 Swaziland 0
Chad 0 South Africa 3
Cameroon 3 Liberia 1
Mauritius 1 Sudan 2
Zimbabwe 1 Morocco 1
Madagascar 0 Ivory Coast 3
Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria 3 3 0 0 4 0 9
Uganda 3 1 1 1 3 1 4
Lesotho 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
Niger 3 0 1 2 0 5 1
Remaining matches:
On June 2
In Kampala
Uganda v Nigeria
In Niamey
Niger v Lesotho
On June 16
In Maseru
Lesotho v Uganda
In Niamey
Niger v Nigeria
On September 8-9:
In Lagos
Nigeria v Lesotho
In Kampala
Uganda v Niger