Uganda Cranes 3 Mauritania 0

By Swalley Kenyi

International friendly

Uganda 3 Mauritania 0

SAVIO Kabugo and substitutes Brian Majwega and Francis Olaki were on target as Uganda Cranes beat Mauritania 3-0 in an international friendly match at Namboole on Thursday.

After a barren first half in which the Cranes’ flanks were partially functional, the team finally livened up when Majwega who came on for Joseph Mpande, opened the scoring just after resumption.

Kabugo doubled the lead with a header soon after before Olaki, who had replaced Saidi Kyeyune, put the game beyond the visitors’ reach.

Coach Micho Sredojevic was full of praise for his players especially midfielder Ivan Ntege, who he baptised ‘atomic anti’ for foiling every move the opponents launched from the midfield.

“I am excited with the players. They have played according to plan and we are only left with polishing our play. We did not play ‘Air Uganda’ (aerial) football match,” Micho explained after the match.

Hassan Wasswa (Denis Guma) came in the midfield as Henry Kisekka (for Richard Kasagga) dropped into the backline. 

And although Wasswa’s commanding abilities for which he was drafted on to the squad were unquestionable, it was clear that he needs more effort to convince the technical team about his form and fitness.

After captaining the team through the two qualifiers against Tanzania last year, the KCCA FC midfielder had travelled to Vietnam in search for a professional move and has just joined the training camp.

Nicholas Wadada who had been excluded from the preliminary CHAN squad with injuries suffered in a boda boda accident a couple of weeks back, was an unused substitute.

I. Watenga, D. Iguma (H. Wasswa), J. Ntambi, I. Muleme, R. Kasagga (H. Kisekka), S. Kabugo, I. Ntege, V. Kayizzi (S. Okwi), J. Mpande(B. Majwega), S. Kyeyune (F.Olaki), Y. Sentamu (A. Kyambadde)