Micho refuses to write off Adebayor’s Togo

Cranes striker Geoffrey Massa (R) celebrates his goal with teammates Tonny Mawejje (L) and Khalid Aucho (M) on Wednesday. Cranes must now lay strategies of stopping Togo hit man Emmanuel Adebayor PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA

What you need to know:

Soccer. Cranes coach insists every team in Group E, including Togo, who have lost their tow games, can still make the Africa Cup.

Kampala. Wednesday evening’s 2-0 victory over Guinea kept Uganda on course to ending a 37-year absence from the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Yet harder work remains ahead with 2015 Nations Cup qualifying fixtures including Togo at home on October 11, and a trip to Lome five days later coming fast and furious.
The Cranes then host Ghana Black Stars at Namboole on November 15 before ending the campaign with a trip to Guinea on Novemer 19, all in the quest of finishing among the top two in Group E or at least being the third-best in the seven pools of qualification.

But now, though – following a well-executed brace from Pretoria Tuks striker Geoffrey Massa against Guinea, Micho insists it is a game-by-game basis; and that despite losing their opening two games, Emmanuel Adebayor-inspired Togo are not out of the qualification equation yet. “No, no, no,” Micho said after being asked whether he thought it was not between Uganda, Ghana and Guinea, “I know them as very proud people, a team that has been at 2006 World Cup, meaning we have to give them respect due to them in order chase our dream.
“We need to approach them the same way we approached Ghana, meaning we have to be in the right frame of mind and keep the discipline. Every game is very important and Togo have the power to win games everywhere.
“But I believe in my players that with pure hard work, determination and commitment, we can also beat any team as we showed against Guinea. We are taking each game at a time and Togo is next. Everyone can still qualify.” Micho added that he cannot guarantee the same team will play against Guinea, saying that every player in camp still has a chance, but that they will play on merit.
Guinea coach Michael Dussuyer conceded they lost to a better team.

2015 AFCON SELECTED RESULTS

Uganda 2-0 Guinea
Algeria 1-0 Mali
Egypt 0-1 Tunisia
S. Africa 0-0 Nigeria
Botswana 0-2 Senegal
Cape Verde 2-1 Zambia
Lesotho 1-1 Gabon
Angola 0-3 B. Faso
M’bique 1-1 Niger
Togo 2-3 Ghana
Congo 2-0 Sudan

Cameroon 4-1 I. Coast
Malawi 3-2 Ethiopia
S.Leone 0-2 D.R Congo

UPCOMING FIXTURES
Oct11: Uganda vs Togo
Oct 15: Togo vs Uganda

Nov 15: Uganda vs Ghana
Nov 19: Guinea vs Uganda