It’s Mission Possible

Andrew Mwanguhya

4 June 2011

Amid all the focus on Fifa and its bosses’ alleged escapades in Zurich, the beautiful game can once again get the attention it deserves this international weekend.

It’s also a weekend when Bobby Williamson leads out 18 souls in national colours onto Namboole Stadium turf to not only extend the six-year unbeaten home record, but also expand the horizons closer to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea – next year’s event co-hosts.

Victory over Guinea Bissau in the 2012 Nations Cup return leg qualifier today will move the Uganda Cranes to 10 points after four games in Group J.

And should Angola and Kenya draw in Luanda, Uganda could end the day needing – at worst – just a point in their remaining two games, away in Angola and at home against Kenya, to end the 34-year-old jinx.

Cranes go into this tie after their first ever qualifying win in West Africa, thanks to David Obua’s goal against the visitors.

Uganda can also draw encouragement from their impeccable Namboole form, where they last lost 1-0 to South Africa in 2005.

Backline puzzle

But not encouraging news has hit camp with Nestroy Kizito joining goalkeeper Onyango on the doubts list. The left-back limped off after awkwardly twisting his leg in yesterday’s training.

Dennis Onyango, though, went through the drills without much trouble according to trainer Fred Kajoba but “both will face late fitness tests”.

Bobby is already without suspended skipper Ibrahim Sekagya. Sekagya and Onyango have been present in all three Cranes clean sheets while Kizito in two.

Their absence would mean three new faces in defence, with Godfrey Walusimbi replacing Kizito and Hassan Wasswa or Isaac Isinde partnering Andy Mwesigwa. Simeon Masaba is a mainstay at right-back.

Abel Dhaira could be favoured ahead of Hamza Muwonge in goal should Onyango fail to recover in time.Coach Norton de Matos will ask his dangerman Niche Dionisio to trouble the unfamiliar Uganda backline. The Bissauans finally arrived yesterday, a day late.

Tonny Mawejje and Musa Mudde will have to neutralize the attacking threat of Zezinho in midfield. Should Walusimbi replace Kizito in defence, Steven Bengo will start on the left with Vincent Kayizzi on the right.

David Obua and Geoffrey Massa will lead the line.

Cranes probable line-up

GK: Dennis Onyango (Black Aces)

Defenders: Nestroy Kizito (Partisan), Simeon Masaba (URA), Isaac Isinde (St George), Andy Mwesigwa (FC Ordabasy) Midfielders: Vincent Kayizzi (Novi Pazar), Tony Mawejje (IBV), Musa Mudde (Sofapaka), Godfrey Walusimbi (Bunna), David Obua (Hearts)

Striker: Geoffrey Massa (Itesalat)

Match officials –

Abdel Gadir Badr El Din (Sudan)

Ahmed Ali Waleed Bakheit Awad

Gebrewold Gebremariam (Ethiopia)

Read SCORE for detailed analysis and stats on the game.

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