Moses Mugalu
Uganda Cranes coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic has come to the defense of his players following their 0-1 defeat to DR Congo in an international friendly match on Wednesday. Looking ahead to their upcoming competitive match against Algeria on Sunday, June 18, Micho issued a warning to their opponents.
Despite the loss, the Cranes, who have been preparing in Douala, Cameroon for the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria, showed promise during the friendly game but lacked the necessary precision.
In light of these circumstances, Micho defended his team in his post-match comments on Thursday, June 15.
“Friendly matches provide our technical team with the opportunity to try, test, and experiment with various aspects of our game, but the situation will be different on Sunday [June 18] when we face Algeria in a competitive match,” stated Micho.
The Serbian tactician further emphasized, “The next 180 minutes of football will shape our lives as fans, players, and coaches. We require the support of everyone as we face Algeria and Niger.”
Currently placed in Group F alongside Algeria, Niger, and Tanzania, the Cranes find themselves in the third position with four points from four games.
Securing a victory against Algeria in their upcoming match on Sunday in Douala is crucial for the Cranes to keep their hopes of qualification alive. It’s worth noting that Algeria has already secured their place as group winners.
This means that the Cranes and Tanzania will be vying for the second spot, which guarantees qualification to the AFCON Finals scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast next year.
In their previous qualifier, the Cranes emerged triumphant with a 1-0 victory against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on March 28, 2023. The lone winning goal was scored by Rogers Mato, a talented young player from KCCA FC, at the Mkapa Stadium.