Uganda hopes for David vs Goliath results in Gabon

Victories over Slovenia and Slovakia might have spared Uganda the embarrassment of a dim showing in a buildup programme that straddled four matches, but the manner in which The Cranes capitulated at the hands of Tunisia and Ivory Coast has crystallised fears.

Many observers believe a baptism of fire awaits Uganda at the Africa Cup of Na-tions finals in Gabon. It is difficult to argue otherwise.
The goals Milutin Micho Sredojevic’s charges shipped in against Tunisia and Ivory Coast told a very compelling story. A story of a threat hiding in plain sight. Conceding goals is exasperating, more so those from set-pieces, the early cross in the box, and a breaka-way.

For Uganda, the half a dozen goals conceded in as many trial matches are a jolt-ing reminder of the need to maintain a compact shape when playing at the top level.

While acknowledging that the results have made painfully clear the need for adjust-ments, Micho hastened to add that recent developments will not terminally damage Uganda’s prospects in Gabon. The Serbian coach tweeted to state in no uncertain terms that he is incredibly varied and personal.

Micho’s defence was that performances are always a tad too flat in friendly matches because he uses them “to develop”.

The competitive matches, he added are different in the sense that his side always “com-pete(s)” when taking part in them.

But while Micho always seems to have a sixth sense to compete, one cannot help but wonder whether the Serb is surrounded by a moonscape of problems that will, for once, see his side cease being a bulwark against adversity. The absence of Khalid Aucho in Tuesday’s match against Ghana through suspension could yet expose The Cranes’ fragility in the middle of the park.

Aucho’s dynamism was sorely missed in most of Uganda’s trial matches this side of the year. Needless to say the midfield has turned into The Cranes’ soft underbelly in the recent past. To address this deficiency, Micho may find himself having to coalesce players in a matter of days. Hassan Wasswa Mawanda’s indefatigableness could for one be best put to use in midfield.

This could mean handing Murshid Juuko a starting role in defence. Grieving following the passing of his newly born triplets, one cannot help but wonder whether Tuesday’s match will come too soon for Juuko.

The 22-year-old isn’t the type to take downbeat reality the furthest. He is always unflinching even when odds are stacked against him.

How else would you explain him squaring up to Ferebory Dore when Congo Brazzaville visited Uganda last year! Both players failed to finish the match after a nasty clash of heads.

It is astonishing that there was a clash of heads. A six foot-something striker, Dore is several inches taller than Juuko.

Juuko had no right trying to take this skyscraper of a man on. Yet the height mismatch did not put off the Tanzania-based defender.
If selected, Juuko will have to continue in the same vein to give his native country a chance not many are sparing it.

Afcon 2017: Hard to look past DRC and Ivory Coast

The 31st staging of the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off yesterday with Gabon’s Pan-thers taking on the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in Libreville. Two Sundays from now, the tournament’s final will be contested in the Gabonese capital.

Your columnist has been asked by many to name the two team that will still be standing then. Although I’m not in the business of hazarding guesses, I have a hunch that the finalists could be the defending champions Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo. Just don’t hold it against me if the prediction never sees the light of day. It is after all just that, a prediction.

The lure of the Elephants of Ivory Coast and Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo is too hard to resist. Well, at least in the book of your columnist. Florent Ibengé has turned his Congo outfit into a frightening prospect by any measure.
Under Ibengé’s stewardship, the Leopards roared to a credible third place finish at the last tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

Then as now, he showcased a tactical astuteness that flies in the face of the pejoratives affixed on African coaches. The emotional tenor of Congo fans remains largely the same. Their team has not won an African title since Ndaye Mulamba’s nine goals (more on those later) helped them win their second and last title in 1974.

Some people may shudder with repulsion at the thought of Congo reaching the busi-ness end of the tournament. Truth be told, the Leopards go into the 2017 Afcon finals as one of the form sides. Ibengé’s team has a gargantuan appetite for goals. A dizzying 16 were scored in six matches during qualifying. Also, most of the team’s players have deepened a great deal.

Congo will of course lock horns with Ivory Coast in a mouthwatering Group C fixture, which, if your columnist is bang on, will be a dress rehearsal for the final.

The Elephants banished the lingering stench of being a nearly team when its so-called golden generation finally delivered in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. A number of the team’s veteran players have since called time on their international careers.

But such is their depth of quality that Michel Dussuyer will have a rich squad at his disposal. Wilfried Zaha and Franck Kessié are especially expected to light up Gabon.

Back to Mulamba’s nine goals, could this be the year that his record of most goals scored in a single Afcon campaign goes up in smoke? In a word no. I nevertheless ex-pect Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to take the top scorer’s accolade with a decent tally. We should have a decent tournament on our hands.

What we now know....

We now know that Uganda will have Cape Verde, Tanzania and Lesotho giving her company in Group L of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The winner of the group will secure a ticket to the 32nd edition of African football’s flagship tournament in Cameroon. The runner-up could also get a backdoor ticket if the goddess of good for-tune smiles on them.

We also know that Uganda will most probably fancy its chances of saving itself the migraine of dealing with any permutations by winning Group L outrightly.

We, however, know that this is easier said than done. Easier assignments have been botched by The Cranes before. They should as such proceed with caution, and endeavour to guard against complacency.

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@robertmadoi