Uganda Cranes skipper Geoffrey Massa again showed that he is on last legs
Four quick points from Tuesday’s international friendly as the Chipolopolo of Zambia rallied from jetlag to defeat Uganda Cranes 1-0 at Nambole. . .
- Zambians stun Uganda’s lax defending
After the joy of Tamale, Ghana came a jolt back to earth for Uganda Cranes. Defeat by a Zambian team in the doldrums appeared highly unlikely for long stretches of the match, only for lax defending and a pair of disputed refereeing decisions to deliver victory for Wedson Nyirenda’s team. Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was left raging on the sideline.
Chaila Misheck was allowed to barge Khalid Aucho out of the way then deflected off Isaac Isinde to set up Chisambu Lungu’s 24th minute game-winning goal.
There was a sense of injustice, but the goal owed plenty to defensive malfunction. Aucho’s slip set up the sequence of play that led to the goal when Chisambu left unmarked at the back post — which proved far costlier.
It was a shame for Uganda, for whom the substitutes had shown promising flourishes in attack. They woke up before the half-hour mark, with captain Geoffrey Massa disappointed to smash a close-range shot over the bar and a slick passing exchange setting Moses Oloya down the left to cross for Tony Mawejje’s shot to be blocked when a goal seemed certain. Debutant youngster Shaban Mohammed also had a shot cleared off the line, with Muzamiru Mutyaba joining the party when completing a surge forward with an effort from distance.
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There are no goals to be found against them, as the Zambians proved. Stemming that flow is now Micho’s main task in hand.
- Five forwards looks certain going ahead
Making three changes from the team that on October 7th held world class Ghana 0-0 in West Africa looked like typical Micho dampening down, though it actually owed more to a desire to see as much of his squad as possible.
Uganda’s draw in Ghana had briefly glossed over the thrills of The Cranes’ 39-year wait to qualify for finals 2017 but their underdog reality will soon be back on everyone’s minds. Faruku Miya, who was introduced in the second half to follow his fine display last time out during the Comoros game, looks to have booked his berth to their Gabonese island Of Port-Gentil for Afcon 2017. Debutant Shaban Mohammed cannot be far off doing the same.
Meanwhile, KCCA coach Mike Mutebi today watched from the stands and will most definitely do everything to guarantee Geoffrey Sserunkuma and playmaker Muzamir Mutyaba cause for participation in the continental showpiece. That said, Micho may welcome the confidence both men will have gleaned from the Uganda Premier League; Sserunkuma is the lead topscorer on seven goals and today played with typical zest unlike tired Massa while Mutyaba today looked far from overawed Mawejje in attacking midfield.
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Note that Yunus Ssetamu’s playtime this year was good news for new Finnish club and The Cranes. He still needs games to recover lost sharpness.
With confirmed Micho favourite William Luwagga Kizito okay and captain Massa’s bluntness little but a pipe dream for the haters, it appears certain that Uganda will use five forwards against Congo Brazzaville in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifier at Mandela National stadium on Saturday. The preferred 4-1-3-1-2 formation demands that safety of numbers.
- Micho, Nyirenda make suitable substitutions
In the second half, Micho made changes to his side introducing Muhammad Shaban for Luwagga, while Chipolopolo’s coach replaced Tembo for Rainford Kalaba.
Farouk Miya also came on for Godfrey Walusimbi to bring some fresh legs into Uganda’s attack.
Massa, who returned to the starting lineup after being dropped for the Ghana tie last month, missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the penalty box as the Cranes continued to search for an equaliser.
Veteran custodian Kennedy Mweene came on for Jacob Banda while the newly crowned Kenya Premier League winner Shafiq Batambuze replaced Isinde.
Experienced Sserunkuma came on for Massa while Muzamir Mutyaba replaced tired Mawejje as Micho sought some fresh ideas in this tightly contested encounter in Kampala.
Opposite tactician Nyirenda also gave a chance to Isaac Chansa and Rodric Kambwa who came on for Mtonga Kondwane and goalscorer Chisamba respectively as they caused trouble for the hosts upfront.
- Renewed confidence fro the Zambians?
It is a matter of national embarrassment that South Africans were beaten at home by Nigeria in their last qualifier with fans expressing exasperation at their inability to play a decent pass as their qualifying campaign collapsed into disaster.
Despite beating Uganda, it’s clear that a return to the slick distribution and sharp creation of angles, reflective of Zambian football at its apex when they won the 2012 African Cup of Nations, is some way off.
Coach Nyirenda chose a counterattacking strategy for his experienced team and it eventually delivered.
Until his late second removal, the player who stood out most readily was Russian premier club FK Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast forward Chiasambu Lungu (shirt #11). Despite his age, Lungu is tough in the tackle and strong in the air but looks to have a high cruising speed when called into attacking play.
Zambia will be sure Micho’s charges gave the a very good test heading to Cameroon on Saturday in Limbe if they are to harbour any hopes of qualifying for the Russia 2018 showpiece.
By Stephen Muneza, Managing Editor & Co-funder
