Date: Sunday 24, March 2013
Venue: Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex – 7pm
The hunt for the 2014 World Cup slot resumes this Sunday when Uganda Cranes visits Liberia’s Lone Stars in a group J encounter at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Complex in Monrovia.
Both sides are yet to pick maximum points from their previous two fixtures and will be aiming at victory if they are to keep pace with group leaders Senegal who drew 1-1 Angola in the other game of the group.
Liberia lost 3-1 to Senegal in their campaign opener and drew goal less with Angola in their second game while Uganda has drawn twice versus Angola and Senegal with both games ending 1-1. A win for Liberia will increase their points to four while victory for the Cranes will mean five points from three games.
LIBERIA TEAM NEWS:
Coach Jericho Nagbe who recently took over following Coach Kaetu Smith has named former Liberia captain Anthony Laffor as captain of his squad against Uganda. His appointment of South Africa based Laffor has directly overturned his predecessor who dropped Laffor and two others from the national team on indiscipline ground.
Besides, inside sources indicate Laffor has been preferred a midfield role along with French based Keita. Australia based Gerhardt is waiting is final medical report.
Probable Line Up: Nathaniel Sherman (GK), Solomon Grimes, Teah Dennis, Patrick Gerhardt, Ansu Toure, Tonia Tisdell, Alseny Keita, Anthony Laffor (captain), Sekou Jabateh, Francis Doe and Patrick Wleh
MAN TO WATCH: ANTHONY LAFFOUR: The Mamelodi Sundowns star is the man expected to be the main man for the Lone Stars. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker must be keenly watched by the Cranes rearguard if they are to pick a decent result from Monrovia
UGANDA CRANES TEAM NEWS:
Bobby Williamson has no injury worries ahead of the tie. Cyprus based striker Geoffrey Massa and defender Joseph Ochaya joined the team in Accra, Ghana and its full squad at disposal for Williamson.
Denis Onyango is expected to maintain his place between the posts with Denis Guma, Henry Kalungi, Andrew Mwesigwa and Godfrey Walusimbi completing the back four. In midfield, Williamson is expected to field two holding midfielders with Hassan Wasswa and Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito occupying the slots. However, fit again Musa Mudde is also available for selection. To complete the midfield trio, Williamson may hand Zimbabwe based Boban Zirintusa his debut as a half ten playing behind Geoffrey Massa who is expected to lead the attack though Oloya’s experience may be preffered.
Upfront, Emmanuel Okwi, Robert Ssentongo, Moses Oloya and Mike Mutyaba are all available options to join Massa in attack but being an away fixture, Oloya may start as a half ten partnering Massa with Ochaya on the right and Mutyaba on the left.
MAN TO WATCH – Geoffrey Massa: His pace and enthusiasm will be key for the Cranes if are to leave Monrovia with three points.
Uganda Cranes probable X1:
Denis Onyango (GK)
Denis Guma Henry Kalungi Andrew Mwesigwa © Godfrey Walusimbi
Hassan Wasswa Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito
Moses Oloya
Mike Mutyaba Geoffrey Massa Joseph Ochaya
DID YOU KNOW THIS?
-Uganda Cranes has never won an away fixture in the history of World Cup qualifiers
-Uganda Cranes’ last visit to Liberia was a 2-0 defeat in the 2000 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers
-This will be the third meeting between the two sides with each bagging victory once.
-Phillip Ssozi is the only Ugandan player that boosts of a goal against Liberia.
-Uganda’s last away victory came in 2011 against Guinea Bissau. It was a 1-0 to victory thanks to David Obua’s solitary strike.
-None of the two countries has ever qualified for the World Cup finals.
PREDICTION:
Uganda’s record away from home is not the best but this is the game they must win to keep the hopes of featuring at Brazil 2014 alive. With Senegal drawing 1-1 with Angola, both teams will fancy their chances of qualifying to the next round. Despite Uganda’s poor away record, Liberia’s home record is also not that good. A tight game to predict but I see the Cranes snatching a point.
Liberia 1-1 Uganda
What is your prediction?
