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Date: Saturday 8th June 2013
Venue: Mandela national stadium, Namboole
Kickoff: 4.00PM
Uganda Cranes will be searching for its maiden win of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign this Saturday afternoon when they host the Lone Stars of Liberia in a crunch group J tie.
The Cranes are yet to pick maximum points from their three opening fixtures having drawn 1-1 against Angola (away) and Senegal (home) and lost to Liberia 2-0 (away) and sit at the base of the group with only two points.
On the other hand, Liberia sits in second position on four points just one behind leaders Senegal. The Lone Stars have won (2-0 Vs Uganda), drawn (0-0 Vs Angola) and lost (3-1 Vs Senegal) in the campaign so far.
A win for Cranes will move them above Liberia on five points and perhaps second on the log depending on the results from the other group game involving Angola and Senegal.
UGANDA CRANES TEAM NEWS:
Cranes will be without first choice goalie Denis Onyango (suspension), right fullback Simeon Masaba (injury) and striker Brian Umony (injury) for the game.
Robert Odongkara may start in goal ahead of Abel Dhaira who featured in the 3-0 loss to Libya in a friendly last weekend with either Denis Guma or Nicholas Wadada replacing Masaba at right back.
Left full back Godfrey Walusimbi is back in contention for a starting berth and may start the game depending on how Cranes coach Micho views his mental shape after he had initially withdrawn from the squad citing domestic problems.
Captain Andrew Mwesigwa, Henry Kalungi, Emmanuel Okwi, Geoffrey Massa and Robert Ssentongo are all back after missing the Libya trip.
AIK Stockholm’s Martin Kayongo Mutumba and IBV’s Tony Mawejje are also back in the fold despite missing the first leg clash in Monrovia in March. The duo last donned the Cranes jersey in the one all draw against Senegal.
Man to watch – Geoffrey Massa: He may not be the fans favorite player but the Cyprus based striker must be at his mercurial best if the Cranes are to humble Liberia. The striker’s pace, enthusiasm and energy has always troubled defenders but should at least transform work rate into goals come Saturday.
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Robert Odongkara (cpt), Denis Guma, Henry Kalungi, Andrew Mwesigwa (Cpt), Godfrey Walusimbi, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Tony Mawejje, Moses Oloya, William Luwagga Kizito, Geoffrey Massa and Emma Okwi.
LIBERIA TEAM NEWS:
Coach Jericho Nagbe will be without defender Solomon Grimes (injured) and striker Francis ‘Grandpa’ Doe (malaria) for the clash while Captain Anthony Laffor will have to pass a late fitness test to make the final squad.
Unlike the former two, Laffor travelled with the team and medics have declared him 90% fit leaving the decision to either field or leave him out to Nagbe and his assistants.
Indonesia-based Boakai Foday is the most likely replacement for striker Francis Doe. Meanwhile, the two foreign based players Sekou Jabateh and Zah who didn’t travel with the team finally linked up with the rest of the squad in Kampala.
Man to watch – Anthony Laffor: If passed fit, Laffor will be the fulcrum for the Lone Stars given his ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and centre forward. He scored a scorcher in the 2-0 first leg win and Cranes defenders led by skipper Mwesigwa must keenly monitor his movements.
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Nathaniel Sherman (GK), Zah, Teah Dennis, Patrick Gerhardt, Ansu Toure, Tonia Tisdell, Alseny Keita, Anthony Laffor (captain), Sekou Jabateh, Boakai Foday and Patrick Wleah
DID YOU KNOW?
– Uganda and Liberia have never played at the finals of the FIFA World Cup event unlike their other group J opponents Senegal (2002) and Angola (2006).
– The two nations have previously met three times with Liberia dominating with two wins while Uganda once and no draw.
– Former SC Villa midfielder Phillip Ssozi is the only Ugandan player to have found the back of the net against Liberia. He was on target in the 1-0 win over Liberia in 1999 at Nakivubo in the 2000 AFCON Qualifiers.
– Uganda has not lost on home soil since 2005 when a dubious penalty aided South Africa beat the Cranes 1-0 at Namboole.
– Uganda has never won three World Cup qualifying fixtures in a row and yet it’s what it must do to keep the Rio De Janeiro dream alive.
-Besides CECAFA engagements, the Cranes have picked only one victory (1-0 over Zambia) in their previous four encounters. (1-1 Vs Zambia, 2-2 Vs Rwanda, 0-2 Vs Liberia and 0-3 Vs Libya).
PREDICTION:
Pressure is on new Cranes coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic to mastermind victory in his first home game at the helm while Liberia is keen to keep the World Cup dream. Both teams will have to approach the game cautiously as they try to defend and attack in equal measure thus a predictable exciting game for the neutrals. Too much pressure on the Cranes may lead to crumbling but being at home with a formidable home record and the crowds behind the team. I fancy the hosts to win the game.
UGANDA 2-1 LIBERIA
What is your prediction?
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