Uganda came from behind to hold Guinea 1-1 in a friendly match played at FUS Stade Molay E Hssan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco Saturday night.

The match was Frenchman Sebastien Desabre’s first in charge as the Cranes new coach.

Camara Saidouba Bissiri netted first for the West Africans but Nelson Senkatuka restored order for his first international goal. Both goals were scored in the second half.

Desabre used the chance to assess his players further before he names his final 23-man squad for the 2018 Morocco CHAN finals starting next Friday.

He hailed the attitude, mentality and character of his charges in the game.

“We had two good chances in the first half where we enjoyed possession.

“Our second half wasn’t the best in the opening 20 minutes but we changed the strategy and the system to 4-4-2.

“From then on the game was so open to both sides. I liked the attitude, mentality and character of the team,” Desabre, who joined Uganda from Egypt’s Ismaily said.

Senkatuka, whose goal tied the match, believes they could have registered a win had they defended better.

“It is good to score. We were a better side in the first half. The boys enjoyed the strategy passed to them by the coach. I think we could have won the game if it had stayed 0-0.

“It wasn’t an easy match as we conceded a sloppy goal,” he added.

Cranes will face Congo in their next warm-up Tuesday three days to the tournament’s kick-off.