What Cranes' victory means

Jun 09, 2013

Tony Mawejje’s 4th minute strike against Liberia Saturday has opened up Group J in the African round of World Cup qualifiers.

By Vision Reporter

Next Game - June 15

Uganda vs Angola

GROUP J - Tony Mawejje’s 4th minute strike against Liberia Saturday has opened up Group J in the African round of World Cup qualifiers.

Followed a few hours later by a 1-1 draw between Group leaders Senegal and Angola, the result in Kampala keeps Uganda Cranes hopes alive – even if just mathematical.

To make it to the final round of qualifiers, Uganda has to beat Angola in a week’s time, and then upset Senegal away in September. A neutral venue outside Senegal for the away game is yet to be decided by CAF as the home ground was banned following violence in a game against Ivory Coast last year.

Saturday’s result was also a first victory for new coach Sredojevic Milutin Micho in his debut competitive game and keep Cranes' eight-year unbeaten home record intact. Micho’s Uganda Cranes were humbled 3-0 by Libya in his first game in charge, a friendly in Tripoli.

In this game, Micho did not start winger Moses Oloya and instead chose to pack the midfield to neutralize the threat posed by Liberia’s key players, captain Anthony Laffor and Oliseh Sekou. The two dangerman were given little space, and the frustration showed when referee Adam Corier blew the final whistle.

Liberian players surrounded the referee and assaulted him, claiming it was not full time yet, but riot police stepped in to control the situation.

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Mawejje (centre) celebrates his goal. PHOTO/ Mpalany Ssentongo

In the match itself, the Ugandan Cranes had outplayed the Lone Stars who should have counted themselves lucky not to have conceded two in the first three minutes alone. The pressure climaxed with a well weighted pass by Emmanuel Okwi that Mawejje latched onto to score in the 4th.

In Luanda, Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse put Senegal ahead during the opening half against Angola but Afonso Guilherme forced a 1-1 draw via an early second-half equaliser.

This round two has 10 groups. Winners of the ten groups will advance to Round 3, where the top five make it to the World Cup in Brazil.

The ten group winners from Round 2 will contest Round 3. The teams will be paired into five home-and-away ties. The matches will likely be played between 11-15 October and 15-19 November 2013. The five teams that win their respective ties will qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Martin Mutumba had a great game as a substitute late in the game. PHOTO/Mpalanyi Ssentongo

In other results, Libya were held 0-0 by Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia whipped Lesotho 3-0.

Starting line-ups Saturday

Uganda: 8- Robert Odongkara, 14- Andrew Mwesigwa, 5- Isaac Isinde, 12- Iguma dennis, 15- Walusimbi Godfrey, 16- Wasswa Hassan, 22- william kizito Luwaga, 7- okwi emmanuel, 3- Kizito Geofrey, 6- Mawejje Tony, 11- Massa Geofrey

Liberia: 1- Sherman Nathaniel, 23 Lafor Anthony, 18-Jallabah Francis, 7-Toure Ansu, 6- Alamadine Omega, 8-Wesseh Solomom, 4- Lewis Theo Weeks, 10-oliseh sekou Jabeth, 21- Foday eddie Boaki, 13-Wleh Patrick Ronaldinho, 20- Krangar Zah Rahan