Cranes remain with only one confirmed friendly

KAMPALA. For close to two weeks now we have known that the Cranes would have a friendly, or practice match you could call it, against an “unknown opponent” at Namboole tomorrow.
It turns out the opponent will remain indefinitely unknown.
The Uganda Cranes will now fully focus on Ivory Coast as the only confirmed friendly match after the one due tomorrow fell through.
Addressing the media as the Cranes started residential camp in Kampala close to a fortnight ago, the Frenchman hinted at two trial matches locally and as many friendlies in the Middle East.
“We shall play the Cranes team preparing for Cosafa on Thursday, and then on May 25 play another friendly at Namboole against an opponent yet to be known,” said Desabre, then.
The game against the Cosafa team ended 1-1. It was not clear whether the May 25 opponent was domestic or a regional neighbour, but whoever it was, it will not happen.
“There is no match,” confirmed Ahmed Hussein, the Fufa head of communications, when asked yesterday about the would-have-been friendly match tomorrow.
Desabre, as quoted last week, added: “In Abu Dhabi we shall play an opponent yet to be known on June 9, and Ivory Coast on June 15, and then arrive in Cairo, Egypt on June 17.”
To date, that June 9 opponent remains at large but with a number of teams regularly camping in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Fufa and Desabre could still pull off something.
It is clear the Cranes have struggled to tie down crucial friendlies ahead of their seventh Afcon finals and second successive after Gabon in 2017, with only Ivory Coast confirmed.
Desabre, who will continue grinding with his boys through the weekend before departing for Abu Dhabi on Monday, will hope something for June 9 comes up quick.

In his squad he has some players whose leagues ended earlier than the rest, and some who have not had clubs this year; and training alone may not certify their readiness for the real action in Egypt.
On their part, hosts and Cranes opponents in Group A of the Nations Cup, Egypt have already inked in international friendlies against Tanzania on June 13 and Guinea three days later.
Tanzania, who beat Uganda in the final match of qualifiers after the Cranes had already made it to the finals with a match to spare, are expected to give the Pharoahs a feel of what to expect against Desabre’s men in Cairo.

The Cranes also hope Ivory Coast, whose physique and style is not far different from that of DR Congo, give them an idea on how to tackle Florent Ibenge’s boys in the opening game on June 22.
On their part, DRC will be camping in Malaga but will travel to Madrid to face Kenya’s Harambee Stars on June 15.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors are using the same squad for Cosafa in Durban South Africa before part of it, mainly those that will make the final 23 to Egypt, face Nigeria in a friendly.
Coach Sebastien Desabre’s men are expected to arrive in Cairo from Abu Dhabi on June 17, with their opening match against DRC five days later.

Abu Dhabi camp (May 27-Jun 17)

May 27: Depart Ebb for AUH for 3 weeks
June 9:  Cranes vs Unknown opponent
June 15: Uganda vs Ivory Coast

Afcon groups

A: Egypt , DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, S. Africa, Namibia
E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau

CRANES AFCON FIXTURES

June 22: Uganda vs DR Congo, Cairo
June 26: Uganda vs Zimbabwe, Cairo
June 30: Egypt vs. Uganda, Cairo

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