- Friday March 24, 2023
- Suez Canal stadium, Ismailia, Egypt 5pm EAT
With either team on a single point after two match days, Uganda and Tanzania are desperate to pick their maiden victory when they face off in Ismailia on Friday.
Uganda will be the hosts in Egypt after a Caf ban on substandard stadiums in the country.
The two nations last featured at the Afcon finals in 2019 and ironically, they were in the same group in the qualifiers.
Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic in his second stint as Uganda Head coach wants to make history by taking the nation back to the finals after he did so in 2017 but has had a rough challenge since he was restored.
A win over Taifa Stars who lost to Algeria in Dar es Salaam despite picking a point away to Niger in the first game will be relief for the Serbian who believes small details will matter in deciding the winner.
“We are mentally ready, physically fit, technically effective and tactically competitive,” said Micho.
When you play against your neighbours, you know them and they know you so its small details that decide games and we shall do all possible to see those details work on our side.
Uganda Cranes Coach Mulitin Micho Sredojevic
Tanzania are under new coach Adel Amrouche and have a couple of new players in the set up by midfield gem Feisal Salum is confident despite admitting respect for the Cranes.
“Of course there are new players and a new teacher,” said Salum.
“We give respect to Uganda like any other opponents since they are a good team with good players, but we will fight like the real Taifa Stars to get results.
Taifa Stars midfielder Feisal Salum
Team News
- Dundee United striker Sadat Anaku is ruled out for Uganda through injury while right back Gavin Kizito is an injury doubt.
- Joseph Ochaya and Jamal Salim Magoola returned to the Cranes fold and are likely to jump straight into the starting eleven.
- Adel Amrouche overlooked Simba fullbacks Mohamed Hussein and Shomari Kapombe as well the experienced John Rafael Bocco.
- Feisal Salum is in the squad despite missing several months without competitive football as a transfer saga involving him, Young Africans and Azam goes on.
Key Stats
- This will be the overall 62nd meeting between the two countries with Uganda on 32 wins [L13, D16]
- In Afcon qualifiers, Uganda has managed 4 wins [L3, D3]
- The last meeting in the Afcon qualifiers ended 3-0 in favour of the Taifa Stars.
- Uganda has managed 12 goals against Tanzania in the Afcon qualifiers and conceded 15.
Probable line-ups
Uganda: Jamal Salim (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Azizi Kayondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Timothy Awany, Khalid Aucho, Siraje Sentamu, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi ©, Fahad Bayo and Joseph Ochaya
Tanzania: Aishi Manula (GK), Shomari Kibwana, David Luhende, Dickson Job, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Himid Mao, Novatus Dismas Miroshi, Muzamir Yassin, Simon Msuva, Mbwana Samatta ©, Abdul Hamis Suleimani