Comoros Coach Amiredine Abdou has acknowledged Uganda Cranes’ tactical edge and maturity, but has however promised a good fight for dignity. The Les Coelecantes will face the East Africans in a potentially mouthwatering group “D” clash in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers final bend on Sunday, September 4 at Nelson Mandela Stadium in the outskirts of Kampala.
“This game will be important for the federation and for the rest of the selection. We all focused and we are not looking at the past record. We will play for our dignity. We also have our FIFA ranking, currently at 155th to improve as well as start preparations for the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.” The 44-year old Marseille, France born manager told alwatwan on Tuesday.
Uganda edged the Islanders 1-0 in the initial encounter played a year back at Stade Said Mohamed – the lone goal was delivered by veteran midfielder Tony Mawejje. Their last outing was an identical 1-0 loss to group leaders Burkina Faso in June this year in Moroni, a setback he attributed to deploying a depleted squad.
“We were deprived of nine regulars, it was a real catastrophe. Hamadi Combo played with stitches on his head. Administratively, we made an error that locked out Kassim Ahamanda with an expired passport. We had to change our strategy. Fans also didn’t come to support us; we played in an empty stadium,”
“Nasser Chamad, Ben Fardou, Arkane and Omar Mdahoma were all injured none the less I really congratulate the rest of the team for giving their best in the match.”
The former Golfech gaffer has been studying Cranes past matches to give him a clear picture of the task at hand, and he says it will be a daunting one.
“After viewing eight of their past matches, I noticed they were up tactically, they are a lot more mature. Coach Milutin Sredojevic did a good job on his team.”
Abdou’s team comprises 10 foreign based players whom he keeps tabs with via phone since the federation cannot sponsor trips to their respective clubs. He laments lack of options in the central defense position since the retirement of Ibrahim Rachidi.
Despite refusing to disclose his squad just yet, he reckons he has included new faces in his team to Kampala including former Lorient player Rafidine Abdullah who has since joined Cadiz in Spain.
“I prefer not to disclose names at the moment, you will learn the players selected in the mailing list. We prefer desecration. We must take advantage of the reduced communication campaign to prepare for our match in the quite.”
Uganda gauged themselves ahead of the match with an international friendly against neighbors Kenya in Kampala on Tuesday, a tie that ended in a barren draw. A win ends their long wait for a return to the biggest continental showpiece since 1978.
@bonfaceosano
