History Against Kobs

Andrew Mwanguhya

14 July 2011

Kobs coach George Ssimwogere and Fufa technical director Asuman Lubowa insist Uganda are not afraid of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, the three opponents in Group B, after the All Africa Games draws came out on Tuesday.

“The fact that we are paired in the same group means we are also giants,” said Lubowa at the Fufa conference yesterday. He has a point. How about Ssimwogerere’s assertions? “We have an idea how they play.” True. “(But) I don’t think they know us that well.”

But they surely have an idea, too, Ssim. And history seems to back them.

Underdogs

Uganda have faced Cameroon five times, winning two and losing three. Cameroon first whitewashed Uganda 5-1 away before Cranes forced a 3-1 victory in Kampala. It wasn’t enough to qualify for Morocco 1988 Nations Cup.

Cameroon again won 2-0 up in Yaoundé and the 2-1 Uganda reverse fixture win couldn’t herald them to Sudan 1970.

The only time the two have met in the All Africa Games was in 1999 semi-finals in South Africa, which Cameroon clinched 1-0. It was also Uganda’s first appearance at the showpiece, which Cameroon have won for the past three successive editions. “I don’t look at how big a country is,” said Ssimwogerere on Tuesday, “As long as we prepare well, we will challenge them.”

Record against Ghana

International friendly – 2009: Ghana 2-1 Uganda

World Cup/ Africa qualifiers –

Egypt 2006: Ghana 2-0 UGA, UGA 1-1 Ghana

Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers –

Tunisia 2004: Ghana 1-1 Uganda, Uganda 1-0 Ghana

Africa Cup of Nations final –

Ghana 1978: Ghana 2-0 Uganda

Record against Cameroon

Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers – Morocco 1988: Cm’roon 5-1 Uganda, Uganda 3-1

Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers – Sudan 1970: Uganda 2-1 Cameroon, Cameroon 2-0 Uganda

All Africa Games semis – 1999: Uganda 0-1 Cameroon

Record against Senegal

Nations Cup qualifiers – 2002: Uganda 1-1 Senegal, Senegal 3-0 Uganda

AllAfrica – All the Time