DR Congo 1-0 Uganda
Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic believes that his men have benefitted a lot from the Wednesday friendly played against DR Congo played at Japoma Stadium in Douala Cameroon.
Cranes suffered to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Congolese team, managed by former Uganda manager Sebastian Desabre.
Uganda conceded a first penalty but there were signs of great efforts and improvements as noticed by the coach as he told the media during the post-match press conference in a packed room by members of media.
Uganda was on the wrong footing in the first half but returned for the second period of the game aggressiveness and put up a good performance.
Substitutions were made as seven players were given chance to make a productive run out that improved the display in the second half.
Substitute goalkeeper, Charles Lukwago made a fabulous save midway the second half while Milton Karisa’s attacking efforts were about to pay off but missed a glorious opportunity to level the score.
Uganda will now switch their attention to the AFCON qualifier match against Algeria due to take place on Sunday 18 June 2023 at the same stadium that hosted this International friendly.
Uganda’s subs made:
In: Wasswa, Mutyaba, Basangwa, Karisa, Waiswa, Ssentamu, Lukwago (GK)
Out; Lwaliwa, Mato, Okwi, Mugulusi, Magoola, Bobosi and Bayo
Post match reactions by Uganda Cranes head coach
Micho on current squad after losing both Joseph Ochaya and Gavin Kizito to injury
“We are too late to make any replacements. We are having 21 players, 18 field players and 3 goalkeepers that are ready for the Sunday game.
‘The biggest benefit of today’s game is that we have saved Khalid Aucho who played the Tanzanian Cup on Monday and won. He just arrived today. We didn’t want to use him and take risks.”
‘The second aspect is that we wanted late arrivals of Bobosi from America and Mugulusi from Greece to try and test them in this match.”
‘When you look at everything, I am very happy everyone gave his best. We have some hidden cards that we are looking to unleash on Sunday.”
‘In other words, we are trying, testing and experimenting in the friendly match the material face of the Uganda Cranes that we shall see on Sunday when we are going in direct competition to fight for our lives, to fight for the points against Algeria.”
“We started on a wrong foot. I believe the penalty was not supposed to be there having in mind that the player was falling down and he couldn’t control his movement while going down. It has been decided so I have nothing to complain about that.”
“We had the biggest chance of first half from the corner kick that had come. We conceded from a penalty. In the second half we were changing the approach understanding that the opponent is building with a box of two defenders and two defensive midfielders and are putting fullbacks high up the field. So, we decided to put players that could exactly hold the ball better like Basangwa. We created unbelievable chances however, we didn’t convert.”Micho added
I know that we are carrying on our shoulders so much expectations. I want to take all the pressure away from players. I want them to come and show what they are capable of because we are playing an early final of the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast against a top-class team, Algeria on Sunday.
There is no better chance than this match to show what is the real character and value of this team despite the fact that we are having several young players that ever in recent history of Uganda Cranes.
After 2006, we have always been candidates up to the last match to qualify and that is a standard we are keeping no matter that we are a team in transition with so many young players. But young players have the greatest chance to go from boys to men with support of a few senior players so that together we cross that line and we qualify for AFCON.
