After falling 1-0 away home to Egypt on Sept. 5, the Uganda Cranes hope to secure an important victory against third-placed Ghana when the two sides meet in a crucial penultimate 2018 World Cup qualifying game this weekend.
While the Cranes secured an important 1-0 win over Group E leaders and
favourites in the first game at Namboole, the away loss combined with
Ghana’s 5-1 away win against cellar dwellers Congo put the Ghanaians in contention once again, something the Cranes can remedy when it welcomes the West Africans to Namboole on Saturday.
While there’s no more room for error along the “Road to Russia”, the
Uganda Cranes still controls its own qualifying destiny and the stakes for the match couldn’t be any higher.
The only way to qualify begins with a home win against Ghana, a result which would put the side in prime qualifying position as Ghana themselves host Egypt in the final game on November 6.
Anything less and the Cranes no longer control its destiny and will head to Brazzaville needing a victory and massive help from Ghana.
There’s plenty of good news going into Saturday’s match against Ghana.
First, the Cranes are unbeaten at home since 2015 yet they have not lost to Ghana in recent qualifiers.
Yet Coach Kwesi Appiah’s squad has the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, missing just as Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Mubarak Wakaso, who are yet to be called up since the coach’s return to the job.
However, Uganda Cranes coach Moses Basena is taking no chances.
“Ghana remains a strong team with just one locally-based player. They have pedigree, history and character. We shall not look at individual players but the task ahead of us,” Basena said after Tuesday’s training session at Namboole.
Basena, who is an interim manager, also added that qualifying for the World Cup remains a realistic dream.
“I still believe we have come a long way and I hope we can achieve our dream of qualifying for the first ever World Cup,” he noted.
Only three players; Captain Denis Onyango, Emmanuel Okwi and Farouk Miya missed today’s training.
The Cranes will play a warm-up game against Madagascar tomorrow at the
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo.
PLAYERS IN CAMP:
GOALKEEPERS: Ismail Watenga & Benjamin Ochan
DEFENDERS: Savio Kabugo, Bernard Muwanga, Denis Iguma, Joseph Ochaya, Godfrey Walusimbi, Isaac Isinde, Isaac Muleme, Nicholas Wadada & Timothy Awany.
MIDFIELDERS: Muzamiru Mutyaba, William Luwagga Kizito, Tony Mawejje,
Hassan Wasswa, Ivan Ntege & Tom Masiko.
STRIKERS: Edirisa Lubega, Derrick Nsibambi, Geoffrey Serunkuuma, Milton Karisa and Nelson Senkatuka.
What You Must Know
Date: Saturday, October 7, 2017
Time: 4:00 PM
Venue: Mandela National Stadium – Namboole
TV info: SuperSport Three
