By James Robert Kayindi
Uganda Cranes players returned home yesterday with visibly fatigued bodies from the victorious away trip to Mauritania. Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President, Moses Magago, who accompanied the team as the leader of delegation epitomized the successful trip as a progressive assessment.
“Surely we are at zero level. We started at minus two (with 2 pre-match group games against Madagascar and Mauritania). Now we have reached zero level”, Magogo who later hosted the team for a special lunch at Entebbe flight motel said.
Uganda Cranes on Sunday ejected Mauritania out of the AFCON 2015qualifiers following striker Robert Sentongo’s goal in the dying minutes of added time to qualify for the final lap of the group stages where they will encounter Ghana, Togo and Guinea in group E.
The team returned on Tuesday minus the head coach, Micho, who is on a short vacation back home and 4 of the players who were in Mauritania; Gor Mahia’s Muzei Daniel Sserunkuma and Tusker’s Khalid Aucho remained in Kenya while midfielder,Tonny Mawejje connected straight to Iceland via Paris as well as Portuguese based Luwagga Kizito.
Team captain, Andrew Mwesigwa applauded his team mates’ magnificent effort to keep a clean sheet and progress to the group stage and thus called for such effort throughout the group stage games.
“We played as a unit. Coach’s instructions were well adhered to throughout the 90 minutes. Kudos boys”, Mwesigwa said.
FUFA President also praised His Excellence President Yoweri Museveni for the financial facilitation to the Uganda Cranes and Cubs teams’ travel expenses. Uganda Cranes will kick off their group phase campaign away to Ghana as according to the CAF fixtures.
The players that returned yesterday included: Robert Odongkara, Benjamin Ochan, Faruku Miya, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa, Baba Kizito,Richard Kasagga, Savio Kabugo, Denis Iguma, Brian Umony, Robert Ssentongo, Isaac Isinde, Hamis ‘Diego’ Kizza and Brian Majwega.
The big job a head of the Uganda Cranes in the AFCON 2015 Group qualifiers:
M-Day 1: 5-6th Sept: Ghana vs Uganda
M-Day 2: 10th Sept: Guinea vs Uganda
M-Day 3: 10-11th Oct: Uganda vs Togo
M-Day 4: 15th Oct: Togo vs Uganda
M-Day 5: 14-15th Nov: Uganda vs Ghana
M-Day 6: 19th Nov: Guinea vs Uganda
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