On paper, Tuesday night was the ‘final’ game of Moses Basena’s tenure as Uganda Cranes’ interim coach, whether he retains the job or Fufa president Moses Magogo hires a foreign manager, the next Cranes tactician and his players will be under enormous pressure in their remaining games of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
This is after Egypt moved back to top of Group E after a 1-0 win over Uganda qualifying match played at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria yesterday.
Muhammed Salah scored the lone goal after six minutes after a defensive lapse by the Uganda Cranes defenders. Salah who plies his trade with Liverpool in the English Premier League finished off a rebound after goalkeeper Denis Onyango had parried the ball back.
In the second half, Basena re-organised his team and they fought back strongly but failed to score.
“We lost gallantly. We put up a spirited performance away from home. I am impressed by the team’s overall display” he told Fufa’s website.
In an earlier Group B game played yesterday, The Black Stars walloped hosts Congo Brazzaville 5-1.
After a 1-1 draw by the two sides last week in Kumasi, the Black Stars made sure they picked maximum points in style to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup alive.
Thomas Partey netted a hat-trick, while Richard Boakye picked a double. Vladis Illoy netted the lone goal for the hosts.
Ghana face Uganda in the next game next month at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
If Egypt beat Congo and Ghana defeat or draw with Uganda in the penultimate round of the qualifiers, they will secure their spot in the World Cup.
