Tuesday, September 5
Egypt vs Uganda
The Egyptian Pharaohs seek to rewrite their history as they host Uganda Cranes in Alexandria on Match day 4 of Group E of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF).
For starters, news reaching our desk from Egypt has it that the Cranes are in good shape ahead of this duel.
The Egyptian Hoodoo
The date was July 30 in 1995 when Uganda visited Egypt in Alexandria for a crucial last match of Group 4 in the 1996 African Cup of Nations Qualifier.
With a strong squad of players like Majid Musisi, Phillip Obwiny, George Ssemwogerere, Fred Tamale, and Jackson Mayanja among others under the guidance of Polly Ouma, Cranes needed just a win to qualify to AFCON in South Africa.
The Pharaohs through Ahmed El-Kass’s hat-trick, Abdel Sabry’s brace and Mohamed Abougreisha’s strike recorded an astonishing 6-0 victory to end Uganda’s dream.
In that encounter, Uganda’s goalkeeper, Richard Kirumira conceded 4 goals before the break.
The team went on to miss the two qualification slots to Egypt and Algeria.
Since then and before, the two teams have faced off on 19 occasions with Egypt taking a lion’s share of 14 wins, drawing thrice and losing twice.
Uganda’s 1-0 victory last Thursday in Namboole was the second, with the first one dating back to April 4, 1965 in an International friendly.
Cranes team that started against Egypt in Namboole
Uganda won 2-1.
Ahead of tonight’s header at the Borge El Arab stadium in Alexandria, Uganda Cranes will look to put history aside if they are to have a chance of breaking the hoodoo.
Motivated Cranes
Moses Basena’s Cranes come into this encounter at the back of a 1-0 sweet victory against the 7 time record AFCON holders, a defeat that saw today’s hosts lose their place at the top of the Group.
Egypt are now second in group E with 6 points, just 1 point behind Uganda.
Uganda has managed to pick a crucial point against Ghana in Tamale Stadium and at least another point on the road will see the Cranes in a stronger position to qualify for the first time to the most prestigious Football tournament ever, the World Cup.
Struggling Pharaohs
The hosts recently received a major setback when they revealed that the 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary might miss this tie after sustaining a knee injury in Kampala.
The veteran goalkeeper will undergo medical test before the game, and if he fails Zamalek keeper Ahmed El-Shenawy will take over.
None of their top stars specifically Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah had a good game in Kampala, and it’s still remains a mystery if the fast forward will find his form and hit a top gear.
The Pharaohs have never returned at the World Cup, since their 1990 World Cup appearance in Italy that saw them come last of a tricky Group F that had England, Republic of Ireland and Netherlands.
Analysis
Will Egypt regain their shape?
After their loss in Namboole, a disappointed Egyptian coach Hector Raul Cuper told the media that the battle is still on: “The qualifiers are not over yet; we still have nine points to fight for.”
By 9 points, the former Argentine footballer meant Egypt’s next 3 games that start with today’s encounter against Uganda, followed by another home tie against Congo in October 8 before a trip to Ghana in November.
Of the 3 games, a trip to Ghana is the toughest, but if you are to get things off the paper, today’s crunch with the Cranes is the trickiest because a loss at home will open up a 4 point gap making the group running out of their control.
L to R: Okwi joined by Ochaya and Aucho in goal celebration
Close sources have it that Cuper is set to make some few changes so he can make his squad to come out of the shell and attack the Cranes.
Striker Ahmed Hassan has been tipped to start ahead of midfielder Mahmoud Kahraba who was used as a false striker in Kamala.
Ramadan Sobhi another Premier league export has also been tipped to start the game after the winger started on the bench in Namboole.
Can Basena pull off another upset?
It is going to be a difficult outing for the Cranes with a difficult atmosphere but I think it will depend on how long it will take for the boys to adapt into the match.
Without doubt, the interim coach Moses Basena will do it the ‘Micho-style’ and defend; with either Geoffrey Sserunkuma or Derrick Nsibambi to play as a lone striker in a packed 4-5-1 formation.
Before the team left, as quoted by Fufa.co.ug, Basena said: “We have left for Egypt with very high hopes of a good performance. Playing away from home is completely a different setting but we are ready for the battle.”
Record books have it that Uganda is the only country in the world yet to concede a goal in the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and that stat will be put on test tonight at 8:45 pm, Ugandan time.