Uganda Cranes desperate for a win in Niger
What you need to know:
- Soccer. Desabre will be looking to winning only his second match in charge of the team when Uganda take on Niger in an international friendly tonight.
KAMPALA.
Tonight’s final match against the hosts as the Cranes wrap up their five-day camp in Niger also marks coach Sebastien Desabre’s ninth game in charge.
But the statistic that the Frenchman will want bettered is the wins column, which reads one win, three defeats and as many draws so far.
Given that he is still trying out things to get a working formula, a draw - especially because they are facing the hosts - would not be a catastrophe.
But what must improve for sure is that creativity conundrum that Desabre picked on the moment he took over.
Faruku Miya, who has impressed lately for Sabail FK, the Azerbaijan club he is loaned to from Belgium’s Standard Liege, could only be replaced by Luwagga Kizito on 54 minutes against CAR.
Allan Kateregga and Milton Karisa also failed find a way to breach the Central Africans.
“The players gave their all but did not get the result we all desired,” said match skipper Hassan Wasswa.
“It is a wake up call for us and an opportunity to rectify our mistakes early enough before the Afcon 2019 qualifier against Tanzania. We need to regroup and clean the mistakes before taking on Niger on Saturday.”
Debut chance
Denmark based midfielder Moses Opondo, who was an unused sub on Wednesday, could get a chance tonight.
While the midfield is coming under much scrutiny, thanks to Desabre’s desire for more craft in the middle of the park, strikers Emmanuel Okwi, Yunus Sentamu and Muhammad Shaban will not hide behind this.
Desabre appreciated the fighting spirit despite defeat to CAR, but the Frenchman knows too well that a good display and result tonight will go a long way in building belief ahead of the Afcon qualifiers resumption in September.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCHES
May 27 – June 3 (WEDNESDAY RESULT)
Uganda 0-1 CAR
Today, June 2
Niger vs. Uganda, Stade General Seyni Kountche
Afcon 2019 Qualifiers
September 7: Uganda vs. Tanzania
October 10: Uganda vs. Lesotho
October 13: Lesotho vs. Uganda
November 16: Uganda vs. Cape Verde
March 22, 2019: Tanzania vs. Uganda
