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The Uganda Cranes play their East African neighbours in back to back qualifiers, the first happening at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Friday, before meeting again four days later in Tanzania.
Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic suggested that Tuesday’s friendly win was a useful test which the Cranes coach will use to gauge his team’s readiness for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.
The Uganda Cranes play their East African neighbours, Tanzania, in back to back qualifiers, the first happening at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Friday, before meeting again four days later in Tanzania.
According to Micho, the friendly against Ismailia SC which saw the Cranes win by 3-1, gave him a draft idea of how ready is every player on his team for the game.
There will be handful of changes expected for the game on Friday, but Micho, who is still contemplating the make of his side has suggested the approach will not differ.
“We are waiting for the match. Football is a transparent game, and not a bush where you can hide,” Micho who will further asses his team on Wednesday and Thursday said.
“We have been given a chance (as the technical team) to have so many answers. We know who is capable, who still needs to work and who will be in the competitive starting line-up and who will come in as an impact of fresh legs.”
“We have helped ourselves in today’s match to see where everybody is at present, what we need to tune up from the point of tactical awareness, mentality, aggressiveness and competitiveness.”
“We have two more training sessions, and they will give us the last answer. Many answers have been answered today, but we have a draft of things are supposed to look,” the Serbian stated.
Fahad Bayo, Richard Basangwa and Rogers Mato scored for Uganda in their build up game, marking only the second time they have scored three or more goals since Micho took charge in August 2021.
Incidentally, that other victory came against Tanzania in the first leg of their Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Uganda went on to defeat the Taifa Stars home and away as they matched on to their sixth consecutive qualification for the tournament exclusive to home-based players.
Uganda lost 2-0 to Algeria and drew goalless with Niger at home, leaving them rooted at the bottom of Group F on just one point.
As a result, Micho and the Cranes are aware that they have limited margin for error and need to win both matches against Tanzania to increase their chances of qualifying for the AFCON tournament.
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