Cranes could seal AFCON qualification with a win in Nairobi

The goal is pretty simple. Win and seal a place at the 2021 Africa Nations Cup finals in Cameroon.

But then again, the Cranes might just find that complicated if Coach Jonathan McKinstry does not resolve the issues that undermined their performance last Thursday.

During the first leg -decided by an unlikely late Halid Lwaliwa goal -the Cranes were clearly second best, short of ideas and a shadow of the side that has dominated home games in recent qualifiers.

True, the Cranes can still qualify with a win in their final home game against Burkina Faso in March next year. But anyone that has experienced the pressure that comes with such decisive games will tell you that a result against South Sudan today would be the ideal situation.

The Cranes placed one foot into the finals after squeezing past South Sudan last Thursday, but to skip this second hurdle, McKinstry will have to prove his tactical acumen. The Cranes will also need some of their valuable stars to step forward at the newly-refurbished Nyayo Stadium.

But tactics and team selection first. With holding midfielders Khalid Aucho and Mike Azira already guaranteed to start, the Cranes will certainly need fullbacks with the ability to slice through the South Sudan defense with creative wing play in support of the wide midfielders.

While Joseph Ochaya offered much more in attack on the left, Elvis Bwomono was preoccupied in dealing with his direct opponent on the right.  

Disan Galiwango is expected to step in for the suspended Ochaya with the same assurance at left-back and if Nicholas Wadada is fit, there is absolutely no reason to start Bwomono ahead of the Tanzania-based right-back.

Bwomono needs time to prove that his qualities are way better than those of Wadada, who incidentally was named the most outstanding defender in the 2019-20 Tanzania Premier League.

South Sudan are average but rely on good positional sense and have the height to nullify opponents' aerial threats. They are physical but also thrive on effective counter-attacking play and individual improvisation.

If McKinstry makes independent and pragmatic tactical decisions that align with the players at his disposal, Cranes will earn the win they need in Nairobi.

If the Irish tactician identifies a system that will allow the attacking players -Luwagga Kizito, Farouk Miya and Emmanuel Okwi flourish, the Cranes will ease to a comfortable win.

Kizito is more effective on the right, Miya is more effective coming through the left or middle while an unfit Okwi can still thrive if given the opportunity to start alongside Fahad Bayo.

Miya has scored some memorable goals. The Turkey-based star has rescued Cranes from some very complicated situations. And the Cranes could use yet another match-winning performance from him, especially from dead-ball situations.

If Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango and the central defensive pairing of Lwaliwa and Timothy Awany hold firm at the back, Miya will probably find the goal that will guarantee a third consecutive Nations Cup appearance.

Probable XI: Denis Onyango, Nicholas Wadada, Disan Galiwango, Timothy Awany, Halid Lwaliwa, Michael Azira, Luwagga Kizito, Khalid Aucho, Fahad Bayo, Emmanuel Okwi, Farouk Miya.