Uganda Cranes vs Angola preview

By Fred Kaweesi

2014 World Cup Qualifier

Today, 4pm

Uganda v Angola

IF you are among a group of football faithful that read too much into previous team statistics, there is enough to suggest that today’s showdown between Uganda and Angola will pass as a mismatch.

You will look at Uganda’s eight-year unbeaten record at Namboole Stadium with delight.

You will then turn to that dominant run over Angola in recent years —the back to back 3-1 (2009) and 3-0 (2010) home victories —and predict the pattern of today’s 2014 World Cup qualifier involving the two sides.

But football is such an unpredictable sport that previous statistics will count for nothing when the Cranes and the Black Antelopes stroll out for combat at the 40,202 football cathedral.

Good enough, unlike the ordinary fan, Cranes coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, is much aware and so are the charges he intends to roll out for the assignment.

“I don’t want the team to read anything from their previous wins against Angola. It’s a different challenge against a very good team, with different players,” Micho pointed early this week.

The Serbian was well aware that although his side had earned the right to look pleased with themselves after the 1-0 win over Liberia, the wheels would come off today if they read too much from the result and underestimate their opponents. 

“We need to improve our defending and tactical discipline,” he added. 

If Sredojevich’s first competitive fixture against Liberia last weekend did expose certain aspects, it was the team’s unproductive play through midfield and a lack of concentration at the back that not once but thrice threatened to haul the Lone Stars back into the game.

Expect changes

Micho has spent the entire week trying to resolve all tactical weaknesses and assessing likely replacements in key areas of the team.

First team goalkeeper Denis Onyango did not train with the rest of the team yesterday, which means Robert Odongkara will start in goal behind a back-four of Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Henry Kalungi and Andrew Mwesigwa.

Micho’s tactical review might also see him adopt wingers this time depending on either of the two tactical formations he intends to roll out.

If the Serbian tactician decides to go with a 4-4-2, then Hassan Wasswa and Tony Mawejje will start in midfield with Moses Oloya and Joseph Ochaya occupying the right and left wide areas respectively. 

If he opts for a three-man midfield of Wasswa, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito and Mawejje, then Oloya will start behind lead striker Geoffrey Massa and probably Robert Ssentongo in a 4-3-3.

Emmanuel Okwi, who scored the all-important goal in the 1-1 draw against Angola in Luanda last year, trained with the team yesterday but there are still doubts as to whether the Tunisia-based striker will be fit enough to match Angola’s physical defenders.

Massa missed the trip to Luanda due to injury and hopes to snatch his first World Cup qualifying campaign goals in this particular fixture.

“I only hope I am lucky with the opportunities I get but we will try to continue to work as a team,” he said.

Angola get men behind the ball and play a compact and physical game, making it hard for the opposition particularly in midfield. 

There are few crosses and through-balls you can play through their defensive third.

The danger in their ranks will stem from former Porto midfielder Djalma Campos, Brazil-based striker Paulo Geraldo and Galiano Mateus.

Angola will miss the services of their lead striker Manucho Goncalves but in Afonso Guilherme, they will still possess a lethal finisher that normally comes off the bench.

Guilherme scored in Angola’s 1-1 draw against Senegal last Saturday.

Uganda will lead Group J of their World Cup qualifying table if they can beat Angola and leaders Senegal falter against Liberia in the other game in Monrovia.

Group J standings

Senegal 4  1  3  0  6  4  6

Uganda  4  1  2  1  3 4  5

Angola    4  0  4  0  3 3  4

Liberia    4  1  1  2  3 4  4