Kampala, Uganda, November 17: Uganda national soccer team 1-0 victory over West African soccer giants Ghana in Group E encounter of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last Saturday boosted the team’s hopes of ending a 37 year old absence at the prestigious continental showpiece.
Uganda Cranes mentor, Micho Sredojevic declared that his side will not let the current opportunity to slip through their fingers and is optimistic that his charges will bring the required result when the two sides clash in a neutral venue Casablanca in Morocco.
“I don’t see why we cannot do this [win] in Casablanca. Whereas qualifying for the Nations Cup is usual for Ghana, it is dream for us. These [Cranes] players have hearts to play and the gas to run and win, “declared Sredojevic in Saturday post match interview.
He added though he is aware that to his team opponents namely; Ghana, Togo and Guinea qualification to the Nations Cup finals has become an obsession his side was not deterred by such status.
Uganda Cranes mentor, Micho Sredojevic declared that his side will not let the current opportunity to slip through their fingers and is optimistic that his charges will bring the required result when the two sides clash in a neutral venue Casablanca in Morocco.
“I don’t see why we cannot do this [win] in Casablanca. Whereas qualifying for the Nations Cup is usual for Ghana, it is dream for us. These [Cranes] players have hearts to play and the gas to run and win, “declared Sredojevic in Saturday post match interview.
He added though he is aware that to his team opponents namely; Ghana, Togo and Guinea qualification to the Nations Cup finals has become an obsession his side was not deterred by such status.
“For us it is a dream, and a dream is always bigger than an obsession. So the dream has to be our driving force,” he said.
All the teams in this group have a chance to make it to the finals in Equatorial Guinea, leaders Ghana has 8 points, while Uganda and Guinea have 7 points each and Togo anchors the group with 6 points.
However Uganda has superior goal aggregate and only needs a win or draw to sail through this will be so regardless of what will happen in a tie involving Togo and Ghana.
Despite that status quo, former Cranes captain, Ibrahim Sekagya has warned his compatriots not to focus on a draw but rather to play for a win, saying such approach has previously derailed his country possible qualification prospects.
“They [Cranes] should not play for a draw. It cost us against Niger in 2008 and against Angola in 2011.Cranes should play for a win,” warned Sekagya.
The Cranes will miss the services of Yunus Ssentamu who is injured and has been ruled out in the Wednesday do or die encounter.
But will nonetheless, fall back on the presence of defender Savio Kabugo, midfielder Mike Sserumaga and striker Geoffrey Massa.
But the Cranes will need to tread carefully because their opponents who play physical and utilises most of the scoring opportunities as in their recent 4-1 victory over Togo will not take things lying down with the presence of their talisman Soumah Seydouba.
The Guineans have other deadly arsenals in the name of Naby Keiba and Ibrahim Traore whom the Cranes also need to watch out if they want their dream that will end their 37 year old absence jinx at AFCON finals is to come to reality.
All the teams in this group have a chance to make it to the finals in Equatorial Guinea, leaders Ghana has 8 points, while Uganda and Guinea have 7 points each and Togo anchors the group with 6 points.
However Uganda has superior goal aggregate and only needs a win or draw to sail through this will be so regardless of what will happen in a tie involving Togo and Ghana.
Despite that status quo, former Cranes captain, Ibrahim Sekagya has warned his compatriots not to focus on a draw but rather to play for a win, saying such approach has previously derailed his country possible qualification prospects.
“They [Cranes] should not play for a draw. It cost us against Niger in 2008 and against Angola in 2011.Cranes should play for a win,” warned Sekagya.
The Cranes will miss the services of Yunus Ssentamu who is injured and has been ruled out in the Wednesday do or die encounter.
But will nonetheless, fall back on the presence of defender Savio Kabugo, midfielder Mike Sserumaga and striker Geoffrey Massa.
But the Cranes will need to tread carefully because their opponents who play physical and utilises most of the scoring opportunities as in their recent 4-1 victory over Togo will not take things lying down with the presence of their talisman Soumah Seydouba.
The Guineans have other deadly arsenals in the name of Naby Keiba and Ibrahim Traore whom the Cranes also need to watch out if they want their dream that will end their 37 year old absence jinx at AFCON finals is to come to reality.
By: Joel Chirwa
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