A night of debuts and milestones

KAMPALA.

On a night Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic handed six players - most in their early 20s - their senior debuts, Uganda upstaged hosts Nigeria to record a famous away 1-0 victory on Wednesday night.

Farouk Miya, who divides opinion on what his specialty is, was the unlikely hero as he struck in a deflected shot on 81 minutes following a neat build-up down the left to hand Micho Sredojevic’s side plaudits at Akwo Ibom Stadium.
The victory was Cranes fourth out of the eight times the two have faced. Nigeria have won three, with the other ending in a draw. This was also Uganda’s second ever win in Nigeria, the first friendly also ending 0-1 in 1981.

After early scares that called for Dennis Onyango’s experience to stop Anthony Ujah’s thunderous striker after six minutes, the Cranes steadily adjusted.

By the time Alex Kakuba beat his man down the left and cut back for fellow Portugal-based forward Kizito Luwagga on 81 minutes, Nigerian fans and players must have already concluded that Uganda were no pushovers – at least in friendlies.

Calm in possession, Luwagga glided Kakuba’s pass to Miya, the Vipers forward letting go of an effort that was deflected in off substitute Akeem Latifu and past a shipwrecked Vincent Enyeama on the Nigerian goalkeeper’s 100 games for the Super Eagles.

“I’m sorry we have spoiled his party with the victory on a day he is celebrating his 100 caps for the Super Eagles but congratulations to Enyeama and I wish him well in his future endeavours,” said a buoyant Micho.

Cranes blend of youth and experience had in the end put up a professional performance, though surviving on some occasions and benefiting from Nigerians’ wastefulness in others.

The midfield anchored by Gor Mahia’s Khalid Aucho, Derrick Tekkwo, Vipers’ Farouk Miya and Godfrey Walusimbi was solid but lacked creativity going forward for larger spells of the game.

Debutants in Express’ Shafiq Bakaki started at right back, Kakuba at left back, and Joseph Nsubuga in the centre alongside Richard Kassaga.
Tekkwo in the middle was also making his debut, just like Lweza’s Ibrahim Kiyemba and SC Villa’s Chrizestom Ntambi, who came on late for Luwagga and Miya respectively.

Relevant win?
“I think both sides have a great future and gave a good account of themselves in the hotly contested encounter,” said Micho.

“I give full credit for the hard-fought win to the players. All 16 have fought hard. They’re really lions for beating the Nigerians.

“We have prepared for this match in every detail and limited the opponent to only few open chances. We wanted to come here to play and defend, and we defended well by playing football.”

Yet Micho knows that it is games won when it matters that matter. “The win doesn’t mean anything. I’m only happy with the great win as it’ll further boost the players’ confidence ahead of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers.”

LINEUP with Ratings
UGANDA XI: Denis Onyango (7.5), Joseph Nsubuga (6), Alex Kakuba (6.5), Shafiq Bakaki (6), Richard Kassaga (6), Derrick Tekkwo (5) {Keziron Kizito -5}, Khalid Aucho (6), Godfrey Walusimbi (6) {Robert Ssentongo -5}, Luwagga Kizito (6.5){Ibrahim Kiyemba-NA}, Farouk Miya (6.5) {Chrizestom Ntambi-NA}, Geoffrey Massa (6).
Unused sub: Ismail Watenga (GK)

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