Tuesday, January 26
*Uganda Vs Morocco – 10pm (EAT)
*Rwanda Vs Togo – 10pm
Table – Group C
- Morocco 4pts. (+1 GD)
- Togo 3. (0)
- Rwanda 2. (0)
- Uganda 1. (-1)
Uganda Cranes and Morocco’s Atlas Lions will face off in a crunch tie of Group C at the ongoing Africa Nations Championship, CHAN, at the Reunification Stadium in Douala.
Rwanda and Togo will be in Limbe at in the other last Group C encounter.
Group C is still wide open – Any of the four teams can still reach the quarterfinal going into the last game.
Odds Against The Cranes :
The Cranes went into this year’s edition with more confidence to break the knockout barrier having fallen at the first hurdle in the previous four appearances.
An opening draw against neighbors Rwanda and a 2-1 painful loss to debutants Togo sent the Cranes to the edge of the abyss.
The Cranes, bottom of the Group, face the tallest order to go through.
But they will need any win to go through whatever the result from the Rwanda Vs Togo game.
“We are looking to create that cup final mentality,” Cranes coach Jonathan Mckinstry said.
“We need to go out and play the game. There is no next game at the moment. This is a cup final. We shall have a couple of new things because Morocco bring different challenges.
“We have asked the players to put in more effort, work rate and intelligence like they did in the second half against Togo. We have told them there is no Quarterfinal for the team until they play and get a result on Tuesday. We want to write a story for ourselves, the country and everyone back home. The odds are against us but we believe it is possible.”
Mckinstry has been heavily criticized for his team selection and will have to get his cards right this time in one of the most crucial ties since he replaced Frenchman Sebastien Desabre.
No Room For Errors For Atlas Lions:
Morocco are the defending champions having won the 2018 edition at their backyard. They thrashed Nigeria 4-0 in a one-sided final having swept aside Namibia and Libya in the knockout stages.
They are yet to find their rhythm in Cameroon – They are top of the pile with four points after a slim win against Togo and looked a shadow of themselves in a goalless draw off Rwanda.
With one goal to their name, it looks like the trend of not defending CHAN will continue.
However, to change the song, Morocco will need the best from their leading target man Ayoub El Kaabi to deliver.
Morocco need nothing but to avoid defeat, to seal a quarter final slot.
Probable Lineups
Uganda XI – Charles Lukwago, Denis Iguma, Aziz Kayondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Mustafa Mujuzi, Shafic Kagimu, Tonny Mawejje, Saidi Kyeyune, Brian Aheebwa, Joachim Ojera, Ibrahim Orit.
Morocco XI – Anas Zniti, Abdelkarim Baadi, Soufiane Bouftini, Abdoulmonaim Boutouil, Hamza El Moussaoui, Larbi Naji, Yahya Jabrane, Walid El Karti, Naoufel Zerhouni, Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi
How To Watch – The match will be live on Sports Focus which is a channel on StarTimes.
Other channels include KBC (Kenya) and Rwanda TV on DStv.
The Stats (Head To Head)
- Uganda lost 3-1 to Morocco in 2014 Chan with Yunus Ssentamu scoring for the Cranes.
- Mike Sserumaga scored the only goal as Uganda beat Morocco 1-0 in LG Cup in Marrakech back in 2011.
- Uganda beat Morocco 3-0 in 1978 AFCON group game with goals from Moses Nsereko, Godfrey Kisitu and Philip Omondi
