Solid backline puts Cranes on the brink

KAMPALA. Cranes will make an immediate return to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year with victory this evening against Cape Verde.
As is often the norm, most of the attention has been on the team’s forward line that has scored six goals in four games with five of those coming in the last two games against Lesotho.
But like most successful sides, a solid backline is often the foundation for victory.
The Cranes come into today’s game as one of only two sides that are yet to concede a goal after four games of the qualifiers.
The other is South Africa who play high scoring Nigeria that have scored 10 times thus far.
The most impressive result of the campaign has so far been the 1-0 away victory over Cape Verde that was secured courtesy of a Geoffrey Sserunkuma strike in Praia in June last year.
There are few better goalkeepers on the continent than Cranes captain Denis Onyango who was called into action with one particular fingertip save standing out in that game.
The double save against one of Africa’s best strikers in Tanzania captain Mbwana Samatta in the goalless draw at Namboole was equally crucial.
His confidence often rubs off his teammates who were Nicholas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Bernard Muwanga and Murushid Jjuuko against Cape Verde.
Fullbacks Wadada and Walusimbi are the defenders to have started all four games with Walusimbi also claiming an assist against Cape Verde.
Hassan Wasswa’s versatility, meanwhile, saw him moved to a central defensive position when Frenchman Sebastian Desabre took charge.
He operated as one of two holding midfielders in the away win against Cape Verde under previous coach Micho Sredojevic.
Jjuuko, meanwhile, only missed the 3-0 home win over Lesotho after being booked in the opening two games but remains arguably the team’s most trusted defender.