Uganda vs. Comoros – The Game That Will Make or Break The Cranes

The Comoros team arrived in Uganda on 1st Sept ahead of their last game in this Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Comoros is seated fourth with only three points in 5 games.

They have won only one home game so far in this campaign which came against Botswana at home earlier this year in March in Mitsamiouli City, Comoros.

Uganda on the other hand, this is theirs to loose, the Uganda Cranes stand second in group D with both the 1st team Burkina Faso tying at ten points each.

Uganda won the away fixture in the first meeting between these two by one goal back in 2015 in Comoros. Uganda also won away against Botswana by a 2-1 score line, a goalless drew with Burkina Faso at home followed, then won 2-0 at Namboole against Botswana and lost 1-0 to Burkina Faso away in Ouagadougou on 26th March 2016.

Uganda will be looking for a win from Sunday’s encounter to be sure of a place in Gabon come 2017. Uganda played the Harambee Stars of the Kenyan national team on Tuesday in a friendly game that saw both teams go without a goal in 90 minutes, but looking at them, Kenya was a much far better side but could not convert their chances.

The Cranes will have to step up and avoid disappointing Ugandans again having failed to beat Kenya in 90 minutes and Zambia in penalties in the last two Nations Cup qualifiers at Namboole consecutively.

The Uganda Cranes will be playing their determinant game at home against 155th positioned country in the current World Football Rankings, that is 90 places between them and Uganda who are in 65th position, just behind South Africa and Finland but Comoros have some experienced players like the 26 year old Ali M'Madi who plays in France for Ligue 2 side – AC Ajaccio and Kassim Abdallah who play in the same team.

Uganda on the other side will be hoping their number one goal keeper Onyango can be fit for the game having missed the friendly against Kenya, Moses Oloya is however available and that covers the left wing 100%, Hassan Wasswa will also be key with his deep midfield experience and his physical game to help Uganda’s back line.

Tony Mawejje is also fully fit and Ugandans will count on him to offer the same as Hassan Wasswa’s but going forward and creating goal chances, my reservations are about Geofrey Massa, despite his energy and pace, his conversion rate is very demanding, you don’t expect him to give a goal in one chance or two or even three chances and in such games that is likely to cost you.

I am very eager to see how Ugandans will react, celebrate, enjoy after Uganda Cranes first Nations Cup qualifications in more than 30 years but most importantly seeing their local players on big screens come 2017 but, we can only be hopeful and wait for Sunday 4th evening 5pm kick off to mark history.

Cheers – Mujje Tulumbe.