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Uganda Cranes hold Congo to draw, set eyes on CECAFA

The Cranes team that faced Congo. PHOTO VIA @masindeonyango

?? Congo 1-1 Uganda ?? (Goal Milton Karisa )

??  Ghana  1-1  Egypt ??

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Uganda ended their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign with a draw away in Brazaville courtesy of a first half goal by Milton Karisa.

Marvin Baudry gave the home team an early lead that was cancelled just one minute later by Karisa.

Coach Moses Basena travelled to Congo with a side that had many new players being readied for the upcoming regional and African tournaments.

The team however travelled with star of Uganda’s campaign, Cranes captain Denis Masinde Onyango, who has conceded only two goals in six games.

After falling out of the race to make Russia World Cup 2018, Cranes now eye CECAFA 2017, CHAN 2018 and AFCON 2019 tournaments. Egypt topped World Cup qualifier Group E to secure a place in the Russia finals after beating Uganda and Congo 1-0 in their last two matches last month.

CRANES START XI: Onyango; Wadada, Juuko, Isinde, Walu, Wasswa, Iguma, Mutyaba, Karisa, Muleme, Serunkuuma.

Standings Group E

EGY – 13 pts

UGA – 9 pts

GHA – 7 pts

CGO – 2

The Cranes starting line up that destroyed Egypt, which was the highlight of their campaign.

Recalled Shikabala scores as Egypt draw

Shikabala marked his recall by Egypt with a superb goal during a 1-1 draw away to Ghana Sunday in the final World Cup Africa zone Group E qualifier.

The match in Cape Coast was a dead rubber as the ‘Pharaohs’ won the mini-league and secured a place at the 2018 finals in Russia by defeating Congo Brazzaville last month.

It will be Egypt’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1990, while Ghana miss out after playing in the last three editions.

Argentina-born Egypt coach Hector Cuper rested a number of first choices, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, giving fringe players like Shikabala a chance to impress.

The Saudi Arabia-based midfielder made the most of his first national team appearance for three years by slamming a low pass past goalkeeper Richard Ofori on 61 minutes.

But the lead lasted only three minutes with Ghana levelling through an Edwin Gyasi shot from outside the box that took a deflection and wrongfooted goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

The ‘Black Stars’ almost snatched victory in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time during a goalmouth scramble.

Ghana lacked several regulars, including Andre and Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan and Thomas Partey.


One comment

  1. we have to appreciate the cranes for the this achievement, however not satisfying as expected. for the next competitions, the cranes should aim at having scoring strikers( finishers) fortunately those talents are well in Uganda. otherwise our soccer is so impressing, only a few adjustments are required , lets give young talents opportunities to express themselves, we shouldn’t have one best solution.

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