Huge Task Awaits the Uganda Cranes Ahead of the Sudan Encounter│2016 CHAN Qualifiers:

Saturday 17th, Oct, 2015
Uganda VS Sudan
Nakivubo Stadium
@ 4:30 PM
Just few hours are left to the kick off of the all awaited first leg of the final round of the 2016 CHAN qualification game between the Uganda Cranes and the Sudan Falcons at Nakivubo stadium.
The two CECAFA members are fighting for a slot in the finals that will be hosted by Rwanda early next year.
Uganda eliminated Tanzania’s Taifa Stars by 4-1 on aggregate in the first round while Sudan did not kick a ball as the Falcons got to the stage on a bye.
As one of the team’s preparations for the game, the Cranes played two trial games against local sides, Express FC and SC Villa losing and winning 2-0 and 4-2 respectively although coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says the results from the two games have less or no impact on the Saturday’s game.
“These two games are totally different from the Saturday tie but we have used them to see what the players are capable to do and what they are supposed to do on Saturday,” Micho argues.
He adds, “We are satisfied with the level of mental preparation of players as well as the physical bit of it’’. However the Serb hinted on the fact that some minor technical and tactical aspects still need a bit of polishing. ‘’But we still have to do slight polishing of touches on the technical and tactical aspect so that on Saturday we can represent this great country in the best possible way getting a result that will enable us make light of our work in the return match in Khartoum.”
Uganda Cranes Team News:
There are no injuries reported ahead of the do or die tie but the Cranes will be without striker Robert Ssentongo (suspended) who was meant to skipper the team, a role which has since handed to Farouk Miya.
In the absence of the URA FC forward, coach Micho will now have to choose from Ceaser Okhuti or Tony Odur ( all Express FC) and URA FC’s Frank Kalanda to get who will lead his line.

Key Player:

Muzamiru Mutyaba (pictured) will be handed a task of unlocking the Falcons’ backline with his sublime passing skills. The KCCA midfielder is arguably the best creative midfielder on the team and will have to team up with the likes of team captain Farouk Miya and Erisa Ssekisambu to not only unlock the visitors’ defense but also to find the net for the home side.
Sudan Team News;
Un confirmed reports had suggested that the Falcons would travel to Kampala without Al Merreikh and Al Hilal players that featured in the last four of the CAF Champions League a fortnight ago.
However four of the 30 man contingent to Kampala including defenders Amir Kamal Suliman (Al Merreikh) and Abdel Latif Saeed Osman (Al Hilal) were all involved in their sides’ Champions League semifinal exits two weeks ago.
Others are midfield players Nasr Eldin Omer Ahmed (Al Hilal) and Ramadan Agab Shareif (Al Merreikh).
They all trained at the Legends Rugby Ground on Thursday evening and had a feel of Nakivubo stadium, the match day venue on Friday evening in a session where no one including local media was allowed to access the stadium.
The two sides will face off in Khartoum on 25th of October 2015 for the return leg.
Uganda Cranes Probable XI:
James Alitho (GK), Ibrahim Kiyemba, Joseph Ocaya, Shafik Bakaki, Hassan Wasswa Dazo, Ivan Ntege, Farouk Miya, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Tony Odur, Erisa Ssekisambu and Ceaser Okhuti.
SUDAN FALCONS SQUAD:
Yassein Yousif Maki, Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed, Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, Salahaldin mahmoud Nemer, Amir Kamal Suliman, Saifeldin Ali Edreis, Hamza Daowd Zakaria, Nasr Eldin Omer Ahmed, Khatab Faisal Mohamed, Atif Khalid Eltayib, Abuaagla Abdalla Mohamed, Omer Mahmoud Kosti, Amin Ibrahim Elmani, Ramadan Agab Shareif, Ather Eltahir Babikir, Abdel Latif Saeed Osman, Mohamed Koko Abdalla, Modather Eltayeb Ibrahim, Waleed Bakhet Hamid, Abdelbasit Mohamed Sharif

Match Facts:
Uganda has featured in two of the three CHAN finals (2011 and 2014) since inauguration while Sudan has only featured once in 2011 when they hosted.
Uganda is ranked 75th in World and 18th in Africa while Sudan sits 84th and 22nd in the World and Africa respectively.
The last time the two sides met in this competition was at the group stages of the 2011 edition with Uganda losing 1-0.
Uganda’s best performance at the finals came in 2014 when they finished 3rd in the group while Sudan won bronze in 2011.

Vicent Kakooza