Cranes can force Praia result

Cape Verde 0-0 Uganda
Poor preparation is an allegation you can never level against Cranes manager Milutin Sredojevich. As has become the tradition during his reign, the Cranes acquitted themselves well in two high profile build up matches away to African powerhouses Senegal and Ethiopia.

Goalless draws in Hawassa and Dakar point to Uganda’s good defensive organisation. Thus there is nothing to fear in Praia. While Cape Verde will pose serious questions, they are no longer the force that narrowly missed out on qualifying for World Cup 2014.

In fact, they failed to qualify for the last African Nations Cup in Gabon while Uganda did. Key to a positive result is finding a balance between experience and youth. Replacing the know how of stalwarts Tony Mawejje, Isaac Isinde and Geoffrey Massa requires careful tactical tweaking. In the two build ups, coach Micho has used the Nurushid Jjuuko-Bernard Muwanga partnership. It remains to be seen whether he will stick with them or will draft in Hassan Wasswa Mawanda and Timothy Awany who has impressed in KCCA’s continental excursion.

Though Micho didn’t start him against Senegal’s Lions of Terranga,Geoffrey Sserunkuma’s re-emergence as a potent striker makes him an almost automatic choice to lead the line along with talisman Farouk Miya. His experience in dismantling established continental club defenses will come in handy.

The brief from Micho should be for players to continue doing what they’ve learnt over the years - Always play with caution away from home. You don’t lose games if you don’t concede goals. If the Cranes maintain the defensive discipline showed in Ethiopia and Senegal, there is no reason why they shouldn’t leave Praia with a share of the spoils.
Nigeria 2-1 South Africa.
Last time South Africa visited Nigeria, Shakes Mashaba’s stylists left egg on Super Eagles faces. However, three time African champions Nigeria have tremendously improved under German coach Gernot Rohr who hasn’t been afraid of giving young players a chance. Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi carry the team in the enforced absence of injured Victor Moses and omitted former skipper John Obi Mikel.

Zambia 1-0 Mozambique.
Former African champions Zambia missed out on qualifying for the last edition in Gabon by failing to take care of Guinea Bissau and Kenya, something unthinkable a few years back. Coach Wedson Nyirenda will take heart from the Chipolopolo’s inspired display in holding current CAN champions Cameroon in their last competitive match. I can see the Chipolopolo making home advantage count.

Tanzania 1-0 Lesotho
Tanzania’s failure to convert passion and massive investment into results, is a source of eternal regret in Dar es Salaam. Taifa Stars will thus treat their home encounter with Lesotho’s Crocodiles as a must win as they seek to end their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying hoodoo. Lesotho play a tight game, so this should be a low scoring affair.

Senegal 3-0 E Guinea
After enjoying a two year purple patch, Equatorial Guinea have lost steam. Senegal were meanwhile a major disappointment at the last edition of the Nations Cup. Lions of Terranga manager Aliou Cisse has instructed his charges to show no mercy. Juventus target Keita Balde who scored lots of goals in Europe will destroy Equatorial Guinea. Sadio Mane is injured

DR Congo 2-1 Congo Brazzaville.
Sierra Leone 1-0 Kenya.
Ivory Coast 2-1 Guinea.
Botswana 0-0 Mauritania.
Burkina Faso 2-1 Angola.
Cameroon 1-1 Morocco.
Malawi 1-0 Comoros.
Burundi 1-0 South Sudan.
Mali 2-1 Gabon.