Sports Mirror: Uganda, Angola in makes or break affair

Uganda Cranes celebrating

The 2014 World Cup qualification continues this weekend with most attention on Group J, whose all four teams can still to progress to the final round.

Uganda, Angola, Senegal and Liberia will each be playing with an ear at events happening elsewhere.

The Uganda Cranes welcome Angola to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, a venue they have not lost since 2005 and where the Palancas Negras have suffered 3-1 and 3-0 defeats on their previous two visits, on Saturday knowing only victory will suffice.

Across in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, the Lone Stars will be facing group leaders Senegal in what is likely to be an intriguing match.

Cranes coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic and his Angolan counterpart Gustavo Antonio Ferrin know that anything but a win for their respective sides and they are officially out.

Uganda lie second with five points in Group J, one behind leaders Senegal, with Angola and Liberia tied on four.

Senegal can progress with four points from their remaining two games while Uganda, Angola and Liberia must make do with maximum points from the said games, which is practically impossible since they face each other.

“We shall take one game at a time,” Micho told SuperSport.com ahead of the tie, adding, “We have managed to get five points and that is a great achievement for us, but we must take one game at a time.”

The Angolan coach, Gustavo, admits that anything short of a win in Kampala will end their hopes of progressing to the next and final round.

Angolan team head of delegation Raul Neves Chipenda said: "We are here to play and win. Uganda is not an easy place to play from but with this young squad, we are determined. We may not get where we want now but in a year or two, this will be a great team."

Henry Kalungi seems to be having headway in recapturing his central defence partnership role with skipper Andy Mwesigwa from Isaac Isinde, who started for Cranes against Liberia.

Robert Odongkara, who kept a clean sheet against Liberia last weekend, and Abel Dhaira continue to battle for the gloves as Denis Onyango, nursing a knee injury, remains a doubt for the game.

Geoffrey Baba Kizito, Hassan Wasswa and Tonny Mawejje are odds on to keep their places in the midfield but Martin Mutumba, who was impressive in his second half cameo against Liberia, could take over Kizito Luwagga’s role on the left midfield.

Striker Emmanuel Okwi remains a doubt, meaning that Gor Mahia’s Daniel Sserunkuma, a late substitute last Saturday, could be given a nod to partner Geoffrey Massa upfront ahead of Hamis Kiiza and Robert Ssentongo.

With Manucho out of the Angolan team, the Cranes will have to be extra alert as striker Guilherme Afonso, who scored in the 1-1 draw with Senegal, will offer a different challenge all together.

And it is not only Guilherme with Fabricio Mafuta, Adwa Mokanga and Jose Pedro Alberto in the visitors ranks.

Since 1996, Angola have won three of seven times they have faced Uganda, with the Cranes winning twice and drawing an equal number.

While Uganda can boast of the 6-1 aggregate over Angola in the last two skirmishes in Kampala, they will be aware that the Palancas Negras beat the Cranes home and away in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. Uganda lost 2-0 in Kampala and 3-1 in Angola.

Cranes probable X1

Robert Odongkara, Godfrey Walusimbi, Denis Guma, Henry Kalungi, Andy Mwesigwa, Hassan Wasswa, Baba Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Martin Mutumba, Daniel Sserunkuma, Geoffrey Massa

Others

Denis Onyango, Abel Dhaira, Nicholas Wadada, Isaac Isinde, Hamis Kiiza, Joseph Mpande, Robert Ssentongo, Emmanuel Okwi, Joseph Ochaya, Savio Kabugo, Ali Kimera, Saidi Kyeyune, Boban Zirintusa

Angola squad

Amando Manuel Felipe Da Costa (Amaro), Bartolomeu Jacinto Quisanga (Bastos), Fiston Kumbi Mukabidi (Linbegue), Regio Franciso Conco Zalata (Mingo Blle), Masunguna Alex Afonso (Dany), Ricardo Job Estavao (Job), Elidio Jose Panzo (Pirolito), Fabricio Mafuta (Landu), Adriano B. Duarte Nicolau (Fabricio), Manuel Da Costa Gasper (Manuel), Hugo Miguel B.H Marques (Hugo), Hermenegildo Bartolomeu (Geraldo), Jose Pedro Alberto (Mabina), Antonio Goncalo Cassule (Gomito), Mateus Galiano Da Costa (Mateus), Mario Manuel De Oliveira (Ito), Gamael Mussumari (Mussumari), Adwa Makanda (Adwa), Pedro Victor Mingas (Guilherme), Cristovao Paciencia (Mabululu), Moises Miguel Jose (Mano), Manuel David Afonso (Ary) and Djalma Braune M.Abel Campos

Fifa ranking

93 – Uganda

91 - Angola

Previous games between Uganda and Angola

2014 WCQ

June 3, 2012: Angola 1-1 Uganda

Saturday: Uganda vs Angola

2012 Afcon qualifiers

September, 4, 2010: Uganda 3-0 Angola

September, 4 2011: Angola 2-0 Uganda

2010 Afcon qualifiers

September 14, 2008: Uganda 3-1 Angola