Three-way battle as Cubs seek W. Cup slot

Uganda’s Najib Yiga (L) evades a challenge from Angola’s Gege in the opening match of the campaign. Justin Opiro (20) and Rogers Mugisha (15) were looking to offer back up. PHOTO BY MWANASPORT MEDIA

KAMPALA- Such is the difficulty of the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations tiebreakers that Nigerians were involved in premature celebrations after collecting their second win of the tournament against Angola.

The reality however is that they are still involved in a three-way battle along with the Uganda Cubs as well as Angola for the two Group A slots available to the semifinals and later the World Cup.

For the Cubs, all that matters is a win this afternoon against the Nigerians who are already on six points after defeating Angola and hosts Tanzania.

A win would take them level on six points but above the West Africans with points in head-to-head matches among tied teams considered first.

The Cubs who earned their first points after defeating hosts Tanzania 3-0 on Wednesday will then hope Angola do not get maximum points against Tanzania that would make it a three-way tie on six points.
This is after the Cubs lost 1-0 to the Angolans in their opening game. A three-way tie would then be decided on goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams should Angola make it to six points.

Thinking positive
Calculations aside, the Cubs should be lifted by the result against Tanzania in which they created several goal scoring opportunities while shutting out the opponents led by the much talked about Kelvin John. “If we play like this, and then add a little hard work to it we will win that match and then a ticket to Brazil,” Cubs’ Ghanaian coach Paa Kwesi Fabin noted.

He will again look to the pace of Najib Yiga who assisted Andrew Kawooya for the first goal and later scored the third. He should be joined by Ivan Asaba who also scored and whose ability to unlock defences will be key against the physical Nigerians.