Uganda and Malawi all failed to bite as they played out a goalless draw in a friendly international at Namboole Stadium in Kampala on Tuesday.
Both sides had gone into this game looking to gauge their preparedness ahead of this weekend’s first leg of the 2015 Nations Cup pre-qualifiers.
Uganda entertain Mauritania on Saturday hoping to post considerable victory to give themselves a good chance ahead of the return leg and consequent progression into the group stages of qualification. On their part, Malawi coach Young Chimodzi’s side travel to Benin.
But there was little, if any, inspiration from either side as both labored to forge up anything inspirational.
Perhaps, given that their qualifier is on the road, Malawi could draw positives from the encounter as a goalless draw in Benin would not spell doom for them.
But should Micho Sredojevic’s side fail to score at home on Saturday against Mauritania, their dream to Morocco 2015 could be checked as their poor travels are well documented.
On Saturday, Uganda will definitely have to do better than they did on Tuesday evening at Namboole.
While the defence that started with Robert Odongkara in goal, Savio Kabugo and Isaac Isinde in the middle, Denis Guma and Godfrey Walusimbi as full backs, was hardly troubled by not so clever Malawian attack, Micho will have been worried his team’s play going forward.
The midfield of Godfrey ‘Baba’ Kizito Ivan Ntege and Miya Farouk struggled to conjure up anything impactful, with the latter the better of the lot with a few neat passes.
Joseph Ochaya and Hamis Kiiza struggled creatively on the wings while lone striker Brian Umony had a quiet evening.
After recess Micho introduced skipper Andy Mwesigwa for Kavugo, Moses Oloya for Ntege, Geoffrey Massa for Kiiza, Brian Majwega for Umony, Kizito Luwagga for Ochaya and Yunus Sentamu for Miya in search of a breakthrough but it was not to come.
Micho and Uganda will hope for better against Mauritania on Saturday. They need it.
Source: Supersport