Uganda, Sudan clash for Group C top position

Okwi scored a brace against Eritrea on Monday and will try to improve his tally when Cranes meet Sudan today. Photo by Ismail Kezaala.

What you need to know:

Uganda and Sudan have secured their quarterfinal slots in the ongoing GOtv Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup level on six points.

Nairobi - The second half display against Eritrea had clearly left Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic riled; the Serb struggling to hide the smirk on his face as this reporter trailed him up to the team bus at the City Stadium on Monday.

“If we had scored more than three goals,” he told us, “A draw against Sudan would have been enough for us to top the group.”

That is the ultimate goal in Group C – topping the pool after both Uganda and Sudan secured their quarterfinal slots in the ongoing GOtv Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup here in Nairobi level on six points and four goals.

That Uganda (86th) brilliantly took advantage of the 199th Fifa ranked nation’s inexperience in the first period for a resounding 3-0 lead needs no further emphasis but highlighting of the second half Cranes disappearance cannot go unchecked.

Eritrea could have scored on more than three occasions after recess as they passed Cranes into near submission, and Uganda had to rely on goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan, one of the outstanding players so far, to keep the Red Sea Camels out on two instances. And by the end of the match, two-goal hero Emmanuel Okwi’s legs could hardly move. Perhaps the SC Villa striker could be excused as he was playing his first match since recovering from malaria. “It seems to be the nature our players to relax after scoring three,” snorted Micho, “Instead of having that killer instinct and going for more, they relax.

“We have put ourselves in this situation to almost concede one goal, and put ourselves in a position where we must beat Sudan to be first in our group.”

This, come to think of it, conversely makes the encounter against Sudan tomorrow quite a prospect. They both will want it, will go for it. “But also this is better for us because it will be a tough match,” admitted Micho, “We go out and play for a win and of course be positive. “We’re preparing ourselves for the match against Sudan in the best possible way, it’s even better for us to have as many competitive matches; it is good for our players.”