Resolute Uganda Cranes hold Nigerian Eagles
KAMPALA. Cranes coach Sebastian Desabre promised attacking football when he was unveiled 11 months ago.
But as he approaches his first full year in charge, it is in defending that the Cranes have impressed most after they held Nigeria to a goalless draw at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The result means Cranes have now kept five straight clean sheets and despite this game not being a competitive fixture, was played against one of the continent’s heavyweights who also named a strong lineup.
Desabre made six changes from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cape Verde that sealed back to back qualification with Salim Jamal starting in goal in place of captain Denis Onyango.
Timothy Awanyi, Tadeo Lwanga, Emmanuel Okwi, and Allan Kyambadde all got a look in but the Cranes struggled for fluency especially when going forward and created little opportunities for the isolated Derrick Nsibambi upfront.
The striker, however, saw an improvised acrobatic effort sail over against the hosts who also named six changes from their weekend game against Nigeria but included England based trio Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa and Peter Etebo. Credit then goes to Nico Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Dennis Iguma and Khalid Aucho who overcame a nervous start to frustrate the hosts in what was a physical encounter.
Winger Samuel Kalu was Nigeria’s most influential player but even he produced little end product on the right even after beating Walusimbi.
For Uganda the result means they have now not lost in their last three games against Nigeria winning two.
