Uganda Cranes off to take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles

AFCON RESULTS
Uganda ?? 1 Cape Verde ?? 0
South Africa ?? 1 Nigeria ?? 1
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Nigeria ?? vs Uganda ?? (friendly, Tuesday)

Kampala, Uganda  | THE INDEPENDENT | With the business of qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations completed, Uganda and Nigeria play a friendly Tuesday that can be considered a warm-up for Cameroon 2019.

Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre named an 18-man team that flew to Nigeria without skipper Denis Onyango but with the majority of players who were in action Saturday, including goal scorer Patrick Kaddu.

The two goalkeepers who traveled with the team were Salim Jamal and Charles Lukwago.

According to FUFA.COM, the team departed on Sunday morning at 9am after the flight was delayed by six hours. The game is set for the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr also earlier called up stand – in captain Ahmed Musa and 22 other players for the qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana played yesterday in Johannesburg. The same group will feature in the friendly against the Cranes of Uganda at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Squad to Nigeria:

Goalkeepers: Salim Jamal, Charles Lukwago

Other players: Nico Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Khalid Aucho, Denis Iguma, Moses Waiswa, Patrick Kaddu, Isaac Muleme, Timothy Denis Awany, Isaac Isinde, Allan Kyambadde, Taddeo Lwanga, Ibrahim Sadam Juma, Milton Karisa, Allan Kateregga, Derrick Nsibambi

I’m super Happy with our qualification to the AFCON. I understand our fans wants our A1 game in every games . The only positive out here is the fact that we have Qualified for the AFCON. Thank you to our fans all over the world . ?????? pic.twitter.com/00mhauCuEw

— John Ogu (@ogujohnugo) November 17, 2018

Photos: Training ahead of @UgandaCranes friendly #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong #NGAUGA pic.twitter.com/SqT023iRK3

— The NFF ?? (@thenff) November 19, 2018

*****

MATCH REPORT

 Just when it looked like Cape Verde would hang on for a point, Patrick Kaddu used his head to break the deadlock as Uganda qualified for their second successive African Cup of Nations finals for the first time since the seventies.

Kaddu popped from the blue to glance in a header from a fine cross by Godfrey Walusimbi in the 79th minute to spark of wild celebrations by Ugandan fans.

Uganda Cranes capped the performance by holding on for their fifth consecutive clean sheet at the Cameroon 2019 qualifiers with what their French coach Sébastien Desabre, 41, said is his finest achievement.

“Yes”, he replied when asked by journalists if this was his biggest achievement as a coach.

.@UgandaCranes players showing their love to Coach @Seb_Desabre. #UGACPV #TuddeyoMuAFCON pic.twitter.com/oX5dvAGTBb

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— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) November 17, 2018

Emotional evening tonight. Home debut. Thank you to my teammates and coaches for making this happen. #AFCON2019

To all the @UgandaCranes fans thank you for believing in us. pic.twitter.com/qjJ5yqq3SK

— Kaddu Patrick Henry (@KadduPatrick9) November 17, 2018

There was also a sense at the end of the match that Ugandan football history has been made, and the older generation of stars are now confident a new generation of players is ready to carry Cranes into the future.

“This is likely to be my last African Cup of Nations qualifying match at Namboole,” declared captain Denis Onyango who is yet to be beaten in the qualifiers. He has been between goal for five qualifying matches, 540 minutes without conceding.

Kaddu’s goal not only assured Uganda of first place in Group K with one game to go, it also opened the door for Tanzania to also qualify.

If the Tanzanians win in Lesotho on Sunday they will return to the African football showcase after a 38-year absence.

Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas  admitted his side were second best and will be lucky to snatch second place.

“Congs Uganda. They deserve the win,” he said, before rushing to catch a flight back to Cape Verde.

Cape Verde were in the 2013 and 2017 Nations Cup finals.

Group L  

Standings P W D L F A  PTS

Uganda     5  4  1  0  7  0  13

Tanzania    4  1  2  1  3  4   5

C. Verde     5  1  1  3  4  5  4

Lesotho     4   0  2  2  2  7  2

Uganda’s Africa Cup of Nations record

Host nation(s) / Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1957 to  1959	Did not enter
1962	Fourth Place	4th	2	0	0	2	1	5
1963	Withdrew
1965	Did not qualify
1968	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	2	8
1970 to  1972	Did not qualify
1974	Group Stage	6th	3	0	1	2	3	5
1976	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	2	6
1978	Runners-Up	2nd	5	3	0	2	9	7
1980 to  1982	Withdrew
1984 to  1988	Did not qualify
1990	Withdrew
1992 to  2015	Did not qualify
2017	Group Stage	13th	3	0	1	2	1	3
2019 to  2023	To be determined
Total	Runners-Up	6/31	19	3	2	14	18	34

READ FULL AFCON AFRICA ROUNDUP page 2