Afcon Qualifier 2019, Group L
Saturday,
Uganda vs Tanzania 4pm
Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
Charges: 15,000/- (Ordinary), 40,000/- (VIP), 150,000/- (VVIP)
Group L standings Team
P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Lesotho 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Tanzania 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Cape Verde 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
 By Denis West
After nine months of intense preps, Uganda Cranes coach Sebatien Desabre’s moment of reckoning has come.
He has played nine matches since taking over Moses Basena in December and won one – against little known Sao Tome – but few pundits want to delve much into importance of the aforesaid games since most were friendlies.
What matters most however is this Saturday’s crunch Afcon qualifying tie against Tanzania at Namboole that the 41-year-old Frenchman will be tasked to win at all costs.
Tight defences win you matches but goals take you nearer to silverware – and this is the philosophy line that Desabre has been towing.
He preached attacking and attractive football – a sharp turn away from his predecessor Micho Sredojevic’s defence-first-attack-later approach – and this is what hordes of Uganda Cranes fans will be expecting to witness.
“Don’t judge me now. Let the real assessment come in September against Tanzania and October against Lesotho,” is what Desabre has been pleading as the results didn’t come his way.
With offensive minded players like Moses Opondo, Moses Waiswa, Allan Katerega, Farouk Miya and Emma Okwi, Desabre is expected to roll out a purely attacking side against our ‘noisy’ neighbours.
The backline of Nicholas Wadada, Timothy Awany, Hassan Wasswa, Murushid Jjuko and Godfrey Walusimbi must be watchful of Taifa Stars’ lethal forwards Simon Musva and Mbwana Samatta who have vowed to put Cranes custodian Denis Onyango on tenterhooks.
If Cranes, that lead Group L with three points after defeating Cape Verde away from home, win the East African derby, and also edge Lesotho next month at home, then a return to the continental showpiece will be within sight.
Uganda vs Tanzania
last six games
04/07/15 Uganda 1 – 1 Tanzania
20/06/15 Tanzania 0 – 3 Uganda
07/12/13 Uganda 2 – 2 Tanzania
27/07/13 Uganda 3 – 1 Tanzania
13/07/13 Tanzania 0 – 1 Uganda
06/12/12 Tanzania 0 – 3 Uganda
Next cranes games
October 10
Uganda vs Lesotho
October 13
Lesotho vs Uganda
November 16
Uganda vs Cape Verde
March 22, 2019
Tanzania vs Uganda