Tuesday January 17, 2017
Ghana Vs Uganda – Stade de Port Gentil @ 7pm East African time
Milutin Sredojevich’s Uganda Cranes will be hoping to stun Ghana’s Black Stars in their first 2017 Africa Cup of Nations game when they lock horns in a Group D encounter in Port Gentil on Tuesday.
Uganda last played at the tournament in 1978 when they reached the final and will pick up where they left off against the same opponents who they have in recent encounters soared above.
Uganda finished second behind Burkina Faso in their group but took one of the two places reserved for the runners-up in the 13 qualifying groups.
“We are here on merit. We have a huge following and support from our people back home in Uganda. Let’s wait and see what happens on Tuesday but we are edging closer to a very historic day after 39 years without taking part in the finals,” their Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevich said on Monday.
“We know why we are here,” added captain Geoffrey Massa, one of a squad who hail from an eclectic collection of clubs in countries like Finland, Iceland, South Africa, Vietnam and the United States.
“We are on the same table with the big boys of African football and we know they are planning for us but we are ready for the battle.”
In five previous appearances, The Cranes have finished fourth and second one time apiece, and exited at the group stage the other three times. That second place finish came at their last outing in 1978, and they make a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence, thanks largely to the drive and determination of the ‘Serbian wolf’ Micho. The 14-time CECAFA champions are an athletic team who, over the past couple of months, have evolved into a good passing side.
Dynamic midfielder Khalid Aucho and Tanzanian based centre back Murushid Jjuuko who are serving a one match ban over accumulated yellow cards in the qualifiers so will miss the Ghana v Uganda dual but their slots will be ably occupied by Hassan Wasswa and Vietnam based Geoffrey Baba Kizito if Micho’s selections in the few Afcon buildups are to go by.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA), Robert Odongkara (Saint George/ETH), Salim Jamal (AL Merreikh/SUD)
Defenders: Joseph Ochaya (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Shafik Batambuze (Tusker/KEN), Dennis Iguma (Al Ahed/LBN), Isaac Isinde (Unattached), Murushid Juuko (Simba/TAN), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers)
Midfielders: Tony Mawejje (Throttur/ISL), Khalid Aucho (Baroka/RSA), Luwagga William Kizito (Rio Ave/POR), Moses Oloya (Hanoi T and T/VIE), Geoffrey Kizito (Than Quang Ninh/VIE), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia/KEN), Hassan Mawanda Wasswa (Nijmeh/LBN), Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids/USA)
Strikers: Faruku Miya (Standard Liege/BEL), Geoffrey Massa (Baroka/RSA), Muhammad Shaban (Onduparaka), Yunus Sentamu (Ilves/FIN), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (KCCA).
Top 2 players
Denis Onyango, Goalkeeper, Mamelodi Sundowns
Experienced goalkeeper who has recently seen his first team spot come under threat, but at almost 30 and over a decade in the national team, the shot-stopper should overcome whatever challenges posed by his rivals to stamp his authority and presence in between the sticks in Gabon.
Farouk Miya, Forward, Standard Liege
The striker recently moved to Europe, signing permanently with Belgian Jupiler League team Standard Liege, and that experience and exposure should come in handy for the Cranes. At age 21 and with 13 international goals in 24 appearances, he looks to be the future of the Ugandan national football team.
Author: stephenmuneza@gmail.com, +256772544870 or Twitter @stephenkmuneza
