LIVE: Okwi strikes as Uganda sinks Egypt

The Independent August 31, 2017 SPORTS 4 Comments

The Cranes starting line up that destroyed Egypt. Okwi is standing left. PHOTO FUFA MEDIA

FT: Uganda ?? 1 Egypt ?? 0 (Emmanuel Okwi 51st min)

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Emmanuel Okwi was the unlikely hero as Uganda Cranes beat Egypt 1-0 to jump to the top of World Cup qualifying Group E.

Okwi dribbled two Egyptian defenders in the box before striking from close range in the 51st minute, a lead Uganda held on for a stunning win.

The choice of Okwi to start was a brave one by new coach Moses Basena, as the striker had been in the wilderness for a while, and even missed out on the historic trip to the African Cup of Nations finals.

The striker who plays for Simba in Tanzania having failed to make a mark in Europe, justified his selection with a brave team performance.

The Egyptians only came into the game later, but goalkeeper Denis Onyango, and some good luck for the Ugandans ensured they avenged their painful 1-0 loss at the Nations Cup.

The Kampala game was a repeat of a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group match in Gabon won 1-0 by the north Africans thanks to a last-gasp Abdallah Said goal.

The two sides will meet again in five days’ time in Alexandria, before Uganda hosts Ghana October 7 and travels to Congo in November.

Action shifts to Ghana Friday, and they will be happy with the results from Kampala.

Ghana, seeking a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, host Congo Brazzaville in Kumasi Friday needing maximum points to have any realistic hope of overtaking Group E leaders Uganda and Egypt.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah called up long-time campaigners like the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, and Asamoah Gyan, and also named five uncapped players.

This is Namboole. pic.twitter.com/LfdhOetKRZ

— Ryan Alden (@hawkmav) August 31, 2017

.@EmmanuelOkwi‘s goal for @UgandaCranes in the 51st minute against Egypt. #WCQ2018 #MujjeTulumbe pic.twitter.com/kp0FvKFkDC

— Kawowo Sports (@kawowosports) August 31, 2017

Hector Cuper: It was a difficult game. It was difficult to adapt to the pitch. We tried different formations in vain.

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Moses Basena: It is sweet while it lasts. A number of our players are yet to start their season. Many of them are yet to get their sharpness

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Moses Basena: When you play against Egypt and win and top the group, it gives you confidence.

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Moses Basena: My appeal to the players is not to get carried away. We will be playing against a wounded animal in two days’ time.

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Emma Okwi: We are going to keep our feet on the ground in Alexandria.

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Basena: I don’t know Miya’s physical state, but he is a player I would take to Egypt even if he is injured. #UGAEGY #WCQ

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) August 31, 2017

Advertisement

POST MATCH PRESSER

Uganda Cranes starting XI Vs Egypt: Dennis Onyango (Goalkeeper & Captain), Nico Wakiro Wadada, Godfrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi, Isaac Isinde, Murushid Jjuuko, Khalid Aucho, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Faruku Miya, Derrick Nsibambi, Joseph Benson Ochaya

Group E

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Uganda	3	2	1	0	2	0	+2	7	—	1–0	7 Oct	1–0
2	Egypt	3	2	0	1	4	2	+2	6	5 Sep	—	2–0	8 Oct
3	Ghana	2	0	1	1	0	2	−2	1	0–0	6 Nov	—	1 Sep
4	Congo	2	0	0	2	1	3	−2	0	6 Nov	1–2	5 Sep	—

*****

MATCH PREVIEW

FILE PHOTO: Oloya (left) joins goal scorer Miya in a match last year. PHOTO KCCA MEDIA

Thursday, 4pm

Uganda ?? vs Egypt ??

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Cranes striker Farouk Miya is confident Uganda Cranes will build on their strong start to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers despite recent changes to the team’s coaching staff.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Miya said the departure of coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and arrival of Moses Basena in the past month will not change the team’s resolve to build on their recent successes. Micho moved to South African Club Orlando Pirates.

“Both coaches know the players and know how we play. I do not think there will be much of a difference and I certainly do not think that the team will be weaker as a result of our coach leaving,” he said.

After an away draw and home win, Uganda are second in Group E behind Egypt, and are the only African side not to have conceded a goal so far in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Uganda has played four, won three, drawn one, lost none; goals scored are five, goals conceded none.

Farouk Miya is joint-top scorer in Africa’s World Cup qualifiers so far with four of Uganda’s five goals scored in the qualifying phase, and two matches of the group phase. While all eyes are on him to lead the attack Thursday against Egypt, Miya is confident the team has many match winners.

“There is no star player in our team. That makes our team so strong. It is the unity that binds us and moulds us into a team,” he told FIFA.com.

“As a team, we grew stronger when we beat Togo (qualifying phase). They have already played at the World Cup and we gained in confidence when we advanced at their expense. Even when we were drawn into the same group as Egypt and Ghana, not to forget Congo, we still believed that we could go through to the World Cup.”

Egypt team arrived on Tuesday night aboard Nile Air. They are accomodated at Sheraton Kampala. @MosesMagogo @EdgarSWatson @FIFAWWC #UGEGY pic.twitter.com/IGIfxA38gj

— Uganda FA [FUFA] (@OfficialFUFA) August 29, 2017

Egyptians here

The Egyptians flew in on Tuesday night aboard Nile Air, with a team comprising 15 foreign-based players.

For his final 25-man squad, Egypt coach Hector Cuper also has Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Elneny. They are expected to have a feel of the pitch at the Mandela National Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

Egypt squad:

Goalkeepers:
Essam El-Hadary (Taawoun, KSA), Sherif Ekrami (Ahly), Ahmed El-Shennawy (Zamalek).

Defenders:
Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa, England), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Ahly Jeddah, KSA), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich, England), Omar Gaber (Basel, Switzerland), Karim Hafiz (Lens, France), Saad Samir (Ahly), Rami Rabia (Ahly), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Mohamed Fathi (Ismaily).

Midfielders:
Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan (Kasimpasa, Turkey), Sam Morsi (Wigan, England), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Hossam Ashour (Ahly), Abdallah El-Said (Ahly), Saleh Gomaa (Ahly).

Forwards:
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Ahmed Koka (Sporting Braga, Portugal), Amr Gamal (Bivest Witts, South Africa), Mahmoud “Kahraba” Abdel-Moneim (Ittihad Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Hossam Hassan (Smouha).

Uganda squad:

Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Odongkara (St George, Ethiopia), Ismail Watenga (Vipers), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA)

Defenders: Nico Wakiro Wadada (Vipers), Isaac Muleme (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Bernard Muwanga (SC Villa Jogoo), Geofrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Dennis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Paul Musamali (KCCA), Isaac Isinde (Buildcon, Zambia)

Midfielders: Aucho Khalid (Unattached), Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Ivan ‘Kojja’ Ntege (Township Rollers, Botswana), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Moses Waiswa (Vipers), Shafiq Kagimu (URA), William Luwagga Kizito (CSM Politehnica Iași, Romania), Wasswa Hassan Mawanda (Njimeh Lebanon), Joseph Ochaya (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia)

Strikers: Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA), Geofrey Sserunkuma (Buildcon, Zambia), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba, Tanzania), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium).