No accommodation, no problem for Cranes fans in Port Gentil
Cranes supporters outside Stade Sogara in Port Gentil, Gabon where Ghana plays Uganda at 7pm this Tuesday. Photo by Andrew Mwanguhya
What you need to know:
- All commercial flights land in the Gabon capital of Libreville and a number of Cranes fans have found the connection to Port Gentil (30 minutes by air but give hours by ferry) a problem.
- Port Gentil is not a cheap town - $350 a night is the bed and breakfast cost of a room at Sicka Hotel that otherwise would go for Shs80,000 in Kampala - and some fans have made their base in Libreville with trips to be made here only for Cranes games.
GABON.
Fans have been arriving in Port Gentil via air and water to support Uganda Cranes who return to continental competition for the first time since 1978.
Hundreds have been flying in for the last three days to lend their support to the national team.
All commercial flights land in the Gabon capital of Libreville and a number of Cranes fans have found the connection to Port Gentil (30 minutes by air but give hours by ferry) a problem.
All is set inside the stadium where the Cranes will lock horns with the Black Stars in their opening Afcon game in Gabon. Photo by Andrew Mwanguhya
Flights are either full or costly or both and five hours on the water after twice as many hours in transit are not the most ideal way to arrive at the Cranes base fresh and sound.
"We got here last night and have nowhere to stay but what is fuelling us is the match," said Raphael Kamanzi, who arrived with a team of Cranes fans by ferry last night.
Field workers put final touches to the pitch where a David and Goliath battle is expected when Cranes battle Ghana Black Stars in the Group D Afcon opener. Photo by Andrew Mwanguhya
Port Gentil is not a cheap town - $350 a night is the bed and breakfast cost of a room at Sicka Hotel that otherwise would go for Shs80,000 in Kampala - and some fans have made their base in Libreville with trips to be made here only for Cranes games.
All the challenges encountered in making the trip will become a non-issue should Cranes secure victory.
Save Uganda. Cranes fans will be looking to the heroics of recently crowned African player of the year, Denis Onyango to stop the Black Stars. Photo by Andrew Mwanguhya
"We want to show the world that we have not come to make numbers; we have come to compete," Adolf Rukundo, who flew in from South Africa remarked.
After Ghana, Uganda plays Egypt on Saturday at the same stadium before rounding off the Group games with a match against Mali on January 25.
Ghanaian fans are not expecting a stroll in the park for their team despite the country's outstanding pedigree in continental football.
Cranes coach Micho will be hoping for top performance from his boys in order tame the Ghana Black Stars. Photo by Andrew Mwanguhya
"This is Afcon and the first games have shown us that the tournament will be tough," Ghana fan John Adjei told Daily Monitor. "Avram (Grant) must get his tactics right."
