Cranes mentally, statistically ahead

Never before have the Uganda Cranes entered a final day of qualification to a major tournament in the shape – statistically and mentally - they approach Tanzania’s Taifa Stars tomorrow in.
Yes, Uganda have previously entered the ultimate day topping the group, a win away from qualifying or missed the Promised Land by a goal short.
But never before have the Cranes sauntered into a supposed crucial match with the swagger they do at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam tomorrow.
Here, coach Sebastien Desabre’s men will not be looking to beating Tanzania and praying events in the Cape Verde versus Lesotho match favour them.
If anything, it is the other team teams that will be beseeching Uganda for them to progress. At 13 points and with a game to go, the Cranes – one of the first teams to qualify for June/July’s Afcon in Egypt – have all the choices in the world.
Desabre can decide to test his hugely untested players, go gung-ho, or set out to deliberately keep Uganda’s 100 per cent clean sheet record. Yet, the Frenchman can fail to get the desired result with all above and will still not have failed.
Seven goals scored, none conceded, and potentially ending the campaign with a country record 16 points, no one can begrudge blustering into tomorrow’s East African derby with bravado. “We want to finish with victory because it also increases out chances of being seeded” insisted Cranes skipper Denis Onyango.
Actually, the Cranes tower above the Taifa Stars in everything Nations Cup. The two have faced off nine times in Afcon qualification, Uganda winning four times, and Tanzania two fewer. Overall, Uganda have beaten Tanzania 26 times to Taifa Stars 10.
Worth noting, however; Uganda went to Tanzania and beat the hosts 1-0 in 1984 before the Southern neighbours responded in more brutal fashion in Kampala, thrashing the Cranes 3-1 in the return leg.
That remains the only Afcon qualification victory Uganda have pulled off in Tanzania. Tomorrow, the hosts will turn back the years to their famous 4-0 win over Uganda in Afcon 1996 qualifiers and hope their top striker and captain Mbwana Samatta inspires the same.

Cranes team in Egypt camp
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Salim Magoola (Al Hilal, South), Robert Odongkara (Adama City, Ethiopia)

Defenders: Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Timothy Awany (KCCA, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Geofrey Walusimbi (Free Agent), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Kirizestom Ntambi (Ethiopian Coffee), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam, Tanzania)

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Churchhill brothers, India), Milton Karisa (MC Oujda), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Free Agent), Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers, Uganda), Ibrahim Sadam Juma (KCCA, Uganda), Moses Waiswa (Vipers, Uganda), Moses Opondo (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark)

Forwards: Faruku Miya (Gorica, Croatia), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Simba, Tanzania), Allan Kyambadde (KCCA, Uganda), Allan Okello (KCCA,Uganda), Edrisa Lubega (SV Ried, Austria), Muhammad Shabanx (Raja Casablanca, Morocco), Henry Patrick Kaddu (KCCA, Uganda)

Overall
Games won by Tanzania: 10
Games won by Uganda: 26
Games drawn: 15
Afcon qualification
Games win by Tanzania: 2
Games win by Uganda: 4
Games drawn: 3
Afcon matches
12 Sept, 1982: Uganda 3-2 Tanzania
26 Sept, 1982: Tanzania 1-1 Uganda
04 Aug, 1984: Tanzania 0-1 Uganda
18 Aug, 1984: Uganda 1-3 Tanzania
14 April, 1991: Uganda 3-2 Tanzania
27 July, 1991: Tanzania 1-1 Uganda
03 Sept, 1994: Tanzania 4-0 Uganda
08 April, 1995: Uganda 2-0 Tanzania
08 Sept, 2018: Uganda 0-0 Tanzania

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Tanzania vs Uganda (6pm)