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If we beat Tanzania in Tanzania and Algeria beats Niger, then we draw with Algeria in exile, and Tanzania draws with Niger. And then we beat blah blah blah.
If we beat Tanzania in Tanzania and Algeria beats Niger, then we draw with Algeria in exile, and Tanzania draws with Niger. And then we beat blah blah blah.
The mathematics for Uganda Cranes' chances of qualification to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has already started, and Ugandans, not those in Egypt, should draw their calculators.
The Cranes put themselves in this uncomfortable situation after slipping to a 1-0 loss to Tanzania on Friday in a matchday three of Group F qualifiers played at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt.
Simon Msuva combined well with Dickson Job in the 68th minute with a brilliantly executed wall pass before the latter set him up for a clinical finish.
It was Msuva's second goal in consecutive AFCON qualifiers against the Cranes. He also scored in the 3-0 win in Tanzania in March 2019.
Coaching paralysis
Micho kept his traditional reserved approach, as expected, deploying a double pivot of Yanga's Khalid Aucho and Siraje Ssentamu, whose Vipers' parent club has endured a rather rough patch recently.
The duo was primarily tasked with disrupting Tanzania's transition; however, that wasn't effective enough as Mbwana Samatta easily penetrated through to the final third.
He added his old guards, Farouk Miya, Joseph Ochaya and Emmanuel Okwi, as attacking options to support Fahad Bayo.
Ochaya has enjoyed relatively good form for his Egyptian club El Mokwaloon scoring five and assisting three goals in 21 games. He has missed only one club game.
However, Miya, Bayo and Okwi's inclusion ahead of Steven Mukwala and Allan Okello is suspect, considering their form.
Miya has struggled to contribute only two goals in 19 games even though his club Çaykur RizeSpor possesses the third-highest attack force in the Turkish second division.
Okwi and Bayo as well. Mukwala was recently named the best player in the Ghanaian Premier League, scoring eight and assisting several that put him on top of the scoring charts.
Okello has scored four and assisted five for KCCA and has been arguably their best player as they sit top of the table.
However, Isma Mugulusi's ability should be emphasised.
"We played against a back four that has all the players in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup," Micho indirectly criticised his deployment of players who are out of form.
Change in approach
The technical bench disproved their tactics after just 45 minutes by introducing Richard Basangwa, Ismael Mugulusi, and Steven Sserwanda for Bayo, Miya and Ssentamu after the break.
Basangwa immediately forced a save from Aishi Manula.
However, Sserwada lasted only nine minutes before stretching out with an injury as Allan Okello came in. Serwadda last played competitive club football in September last year.
The changes meant the team had replaced the right attacking wing save for Okwi. But unfortunately, Tanzania used the same route to score the goal.
Micho removed Okwi immediately after that goal for Rogers Mato. But the changes were too little, too late to save a point, but they provided lessons for the next games.
There's hope but
The Cranes may have fallen, but the Tanzanians aren't invisible. The Taifa Stars were the better side and had more chances shooting at least 11 times with four on target compared to Uganda's five attempts with only Basangwa's going the right way.
"On our side, we have to improve effectiveness in front of goal from open play and from set pieces because we have had many today," Micho notes.
Besides that, both sides matched each other in possession and passes something that is Tanzania's Adel Amrouche's strong point.
The Cranes won nine corners while their neighbours had half as many.
Algeria currently lead the group with nine points and could seal one of the two positions on Monday when they play Niger in a friendlier environment in Tunisia.
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