AFCON
HOW FAR CAN UGANDA’S FAIRY TALE GO AT AFCON 2019?
When the Cranes of Uganda take on the lead ranked African football team, Senegal this evening, it will be the first time both countries will clash in Africa Cup of Nations’ history.
For Uganda, they have exceeded all expectations, crossing the group stage for the first time in 41 years.
They are now facing a tough mission when they take on Senegal’s Teranga Lions at the Cairo International Stadium.
Uganda’s last appearance in Africa Cup of Nations’ knockout stages was in 1978 when they beat Nigeria to play the final match.
Uganda’s coach, Sebastien Desabre is aware of the enormity of the task ahead, saying that the match with Senegal would be abig challenge.
“Our team is disciplined and they are giving all their efforts for this match. It’s a knockout game so we are adopting another tactic than what we did against Egypt.
“Our chance is difficult because we are facing a very good team and a good coach. We are not afraid of facing any opponent. Our team is qualified and we know Senegal is really strong, but once we enter the pitch we play fairly.
“We were not afraid against DR Congo or Egypt, we respect all the teams but we fear none.
“We will take our chances and hope to succeed. We need to be focused and forget all the previous matches and look forward to the coming one.”
The captain of the side, Dennis Onyango spoke in similar vein. “We had some issues but we resolved them and resumed training and we are now just focusing on the game ahead of us.
“We played against Senegal in a friendly before and we know well how strong they are. We have to give our best and we can as well get our results as planned.
“We have to enjoy the game and this moment because we are here and we did a good job. I believe I’m fit and the decision to play or not is the coach’s but medically I’m ready.
“We played against quality players in Egypt and DR Congo like Senegal and we managed to do well, even against Egypt we were better statistically but they took their chances. We have to take our chances as it is a knockout game and if you don’t take your chances you get punished.”
Meanwhile Africa’s top ranks Senegal ended Group C as runner ups with six points, from two victories over Tanzania (2-0) and Kenya (3-0), and one defeat to Algeria (0-1).
The Teranga Lions are hoping for their first ever African title, with their best outing dating back to 2002 when they finished as losing finalists to eventual champions Cameroon.
While Uganda are sweating about the availability of their captain and influential goalkeeper Denis Onuango who was forced to leave the field in the last group match against Egypt, Senegal can draw some relief from the fact that their superstar Sadio Mane had finally found his feet.
The Liverpool striker missed a penalty but then scored twice against Kenya, to register his presence in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, after missing the first game through suspension and having a shy appearance in the defeat to Algeria.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has sacked its Serbian coach, Milutin Sredojević who is popularly known as Micho.
This is coming ahead of Libya’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations clashes with Nigeria next month.
Paradoxically, Sports Village Square gathered that the coach’s contract was only recently renewed for six months before the axe fell on the Serbian.
His sack was precipitated by the results obtained in their teo matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda at home and lost 2-1 away to Benin Republic despite beig a goal up at half time.
The Libyan side, Mediterranean Knights are due to play against the Nigeria Super Eagles in Uyo on 6 October while the return leg holds on 14 October at the 11 July Stadium in Tripoli.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from Tripoli, the Mediterranean Knights’ coach, Micho led the Libyan national team to win nine matches since taking over in October of last year, he failed to build a strong team due to his poor choices.
He also took a risk with the footballers chosen in the AFCON qualifiers, and the result was shocking to the Libyan sports audience.
According to sources close to the Libyan Football Federation, there is a strong tendency to sign a national coach to lead the Libyan team during the remaining qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lashed out at Ghana and some other African countries whose home grounds were recently banned from hosting CAF matches owing to inadequate facilities. He made the remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during a press conference,
After the MatchDay 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF ruled Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi as being inadequate to host international matches. Being the only approved ground in the country, Ghana will now look towards either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo for their remaining home matches of the Afcon qualifiers.
Other African countries without approved home grounds are: Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, São Tomé and Burundi.
Motsepe voiced his frustration over the recurring issue of nations being unable to host home games.
“Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he stated.
He stressed the significance of playing in front of home fans, adding, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to working with countries to ensure they have at least one suitable stadium to host international fixtures.
“Our conversations in every country are to make sure there is at least one stadium capable of hosting a CAF category C game,” he emphasized.
The on-going CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Coaches Symposium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has brought together, the last three coaches that handled the Nigeria national football team.
Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen are part of the the elite coaches currently gathered in Abidjan.
Gernot Rohr whose tenure of 5 years and 55 matches is the longest ever by any coach in Nigeria, is currently handling Nigeria’s Africa Cupof Nations and World Cup qualifying rivals, Benin Republic. He was succeeded in the interim by Austin Eguavoen who is currently having another interim stint.
Peseiro left his position after the Africa Cup of Nations
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