Why Cranes needed Miya

CHAN tournament

Group D results
Uganda 2 Mali 2
Zambia 1 Zimbabwe 0

Saturday
All Live on SS9/GOTV
Uganda v Zambia
Zimbabwe v Mali

Uganda's hopes of making the knock-out stages of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) will remain a far-fetched dream!

The only way Uganda would make it out of Group D, is if team captain Farouk Miya recovered from the injury that forced him off during Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Mali at the Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.

As it is, the Vipers' star has been ruled out with a shoulder injury and that complicates Cranes' prospects in the championship.

It's the price that comes with being so dependent on one-man. The Cranes are so dependent on Miya. When the Vipers star was replaced after suffering an injury at the end of the first half, Uganda coincidentally lost grip of a fixture they had and could have easily won.

Of course, the Cranes will feel gutted that the same incident that forced Miya out of the game, with the Cranes leading 2-1, didn't result in a penalty.

But would Cranes have defended the lead? Maybe not, certainly not in the manner they defended or even exerted themselves soon after their skipper left.

Marching into this fixture, the Cranes knew the rewards that came with a winning start.

 Cranes fans during the game against Mali

And they seemed to follow that very script when Erisa Sekisambu brushed home Miya's well-weighted free-kick from about 30 yards to help Cranes to a priceless lead on 12 minutes.

The Cranes were however pegged back, when Mali dew level in the 24th minute through Sekou Koita.

Koita's first touch took him past Cranes defence before fi ring past goalkeeper Ismail Watenga.

That however didn't seem to derail Cranes' intent. Kezirone Kizito had a wonderful shot saved and with Miya, still in control of the team's attacking play, they found their way back.

Miya scored from the penalty spot after Sekisambu had been fouled.

Unfortunately, that was as far as Cranes could go, as Miya had to be replaced at half time with Mutyaba Muzamir.

Without Miya, the Cranes looked clueless, lacked rhythm going forward and were indecisive in the final third of the pitch against a Malian side that wasn't at its best either.

Cranes' prospects weren't helped when goalkeeper Watenga suffered a suspected groin injury while taking a goal kick. Mathias Kigonya came on but could do nothing to stop Mali's equalizer.

The West Africans drew level on the hour mark when striker Hamidou Sinayoko diverted Mamadou Coulibaly's pass into the net.

From then on, Cranes were simply hanging on.

Although Sekisambu proved a livewire for Cranes, his attacking partners Robert Ssentongo and Ceasar Okhuti were off colour.

The team's overall positional play was also suspect.

In the 82nd minute, Kigonya denied Hamidou Sinayoko in a one-on-one situation.

It will take something special for Cranes to be able to revive their fortunes in this championship in the games against Zambia and Zimbabwe, considering their current disciplinary record.

Uganda accumulated three yellow cards, which means defender Richard Kasagga, striker Robert Ssentongo and Miya risk suspensions in the subsequent game after their match on Saturday against a Zambian side riding high following their 1-0 win over Zimbabwe.

Isaac Chansa scored off captain Christopher Katongo's free-kick to propel the Chipolopolo to the summit of Group D.

Cranes line-up: Ismail Watenga (Mathias Kigonya), Denis Okot, Joseph Ochaya, Richard Kasagga, Bernard Muwanga, Timothy Awany, Robert Ssentongo, Kezirone Kizito, Ceasar Okhuti(Martin Kizza), Ersa Sekisambu, Farouk Miya (Mutyaba Muzamir)