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Cranes enter crunch week
Responsibility. Aucho will lead out the Cranes after skipper Okwi was dropped. Photo / John Batanudde
What you need to know:
- The Cranes travel to crossborder rivals Rwanda for the Qatar 2022 qualifiers on Thursday before hosting the Amavubi Stars at St Mary’s Kitende three days later.
Uganda will have a clearer picture by close of Sunday whether they have a worthy case of playing at their first World Cup or not.
The Cranes travel to crossborder rivals Rwanda for the Qatar 2022 qualifiers on Thursday before hosting the Amavubi Stars at St Mary’s Kitende three days later.
The two enter this one on the back of false starts, with Uganda failing to score in their two draws away to Kenya and at home against Mali. Rwanda lost 1-0 away to Mali before forcing a one-all draw with Kenya.
Permutations
Mali top Group E on four points after two matches, with Kenya and Uganda on two each. Any of these four teams can still advance to the final stage of qualifiers, where 10 winners of as many groups will face off in a home and away playoff to determine Africa’s five representatives at the World Cup.
A win for Uganda in Kigali will give their chances a huge boost, hoping results between Mali and Kenya go their way.
For a team to advance from such a tough qualification system, taking full home advantage counts. But it is Mali, playing from Agadir in Morocco after Caf deemed their home grounds substandard, who have won their ‘home’ game; the other three faltered.
The Malians have also showed better authority on the ball. Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic will hope that changes.
“In October, you will see the real Uganda Cranes,” promised Micho after Uganda’s goalless draw with Mali in Kitende that was missed by some of his Europe-based players like striker Fahad Bayo and defender Timothy Awany because of travel restrictions. Both are now available.
Chopping and changes
Micho was also accused of using clubless players who struggled for fitness like captain Emmanuel Okwi. The Serb has since added some freshness to his team, dropping Okwi and wing back Joseph Ochaya of TP Mazembe.
“We respect Okwi as one of the legends of Ugandan football,” Micho told KFM Sports on Saturday.
“That’s why we gave him the minutes against Kenya and Mali. That was to help him find a club but now that he still doesn’t have a club, we never wanted to summon him without the required fitness.”
There are also no places for Bevis Mugabi, Luwagga Kizito, Nicholas Wadada, Faruku Miya and Edrisa Lubega either because of fitness or travel restrictions.
Murushid Juuko is omitted because he is serving a suspension.
In refreshing news, midfielder Taddeo Lwanga is back from injury and should provide that depth in the middle of the park. In-form Yunus Sentamu, Stephen Mukwala, youngsters Sadat Anaku and Charles Lwanga are the boys auditioning to get the goals.
The Cranes continue training in Kampala before that short flight to Kigali for Thursday’s affair.
