FOOTBALL–Ahead of the Cranes second group game at the 2018 CHAN tournament, head coach Sebastian Desabre is confident the team can still progress to the knockout stage despite currently occupying the last spot.
The French man who has over seen only one competitive fixture since he took charge wants a positive response from his players.
“Yes it is one tournament and it’s three games. We lost the first game but we have another chance to win the next one. We all have to get behind the team because it will not be easy against Namibia but i believe we are ready for the task ahead,” Desabre said after Wednesday’s training session.
“I asked for a good and positive reaction from the players in the final group games because we still have a good chance to go through to the next round. Concluded the former Ismaily tactician,” he added.
Uganda lost its first game 3-1 to group leaders Zambia in one of the games of the tournament so far.
One or two changes to the team may be effected as goalkewper Benjamin Ochan who was at fault for Zambia’s third goal paves way for first choice Ismail Watenga.
Another change may occur either at left back as KCCA’s Isaac Muleme was so exposed in the first game or in the attacking midfield area due to the inefficiency of Muzamir Mutyaba.
After Wednesday’s training session, midfielder Saddam Juma highlighted on the fact that the mistakes made in the first game should be avoided against Namibia.
“We have prepared well for the next game. Said Ibrahim Saddam Juma. We expect that the team will be positive and try to play like we did in the first half against Zambia,” he said.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the second half of that game (Zambia) but hopefully we will avoid such scenarios because we need to win both games starting with the one against Namibia,” he added.
Anything but a win will leave the Cranes chances of progression to the next round hanging by a thread.
Uganda has never qualified to the knockout stages of CHAN in any of the three times they have featured in the tournament and with the loss to Zambia in the first game fresh in the memory of the fans, the hopes of making history in Morocco are as slim as they can get at the moment.
Other group B game tomorrow.
Zambia vs Morocco @7:30pm at the same venue.
Group B standings.
1. Zambia 3pts.
2. Namibia 3pts.
3. Ivory Coast 0pts.
4. Uganda 0pts.
