Sports
W’Cup Qualifiers: Uganda’s Goalkeeper Dares Egypt
Uganda captain Denis Onyango has warned Egypt to expect “fireworks” during their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Kampala tomorrow.
The last time the two sides met, Egypt beat Uganda with an 89th minute goal at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
The Cranes’ goalkeeper says it adds extra spice to their Group E tie.
“It’s going to be fireworks in Kampala because they know what kind of a team we are,” Onyango told Tidesports source.
“They beat us at the Afcon in the last minute of the game, I think it shows their experience and we lost concentration at the back.
“Winning the home game will set the pace for us before we travel for the return leg in Alexandria on September 5th,” said Onyango, who plies his trade in South Africa with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Egypt, record seven times African champion is currently top of Group E following wins over Congo Brazzaville and Ghana.
Uganda is second in the group, two points adrift, following a victory over Congo Brazzaville and an away draw with the Black Stars of Ghana.
“I think we started off well against Ghana and got the result against Congo in Kampala and it’s an opportunity for us to go top of the group if we get the results against Egypt,” said Ongyango.
Onyango, who was named as the Africa-based Footballer of the Year in January, says although the Cranes are in confident mood, they are fully aware of the danger the Pharaohs pose.
“We know how strong they are going forward because they’ve got very good attackers who are very experienced and very quick.
“For us we just need to be very patient at the back and avoid mistakes because they don’t need a lot of chances.
“They’re capable of scoring with the likes of Mohamed Salah, so for us it’s a challenge but to play at the highest level we must face very difficult teams like Egypt,” Onyango added.
Speaking about life after the departure of head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic – who guided them to the Nations Cup finals for the first time in 39 years – the goalkeeper admitted it was a big blow but life had to continue.
“In sport, coaches come and go and the same happens to players.
“We must adjust to the coaching staff available and we simply do what is expected of us,” Onyango said.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.