[ 2014-10-11 ]

Ghana's group opponents Uganda clash with Togo today in key match up
The 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
reach the halfway mark this weekend with Group E
involved in what could be a definitive day on
Saturday for some.

While Uganda, Ghana and Guinea can all afford
defeat and stay alive in the journey to Morocco
2015, Togo must fight with their lives in Kampala
to keep any chances of qualifying.

Uganda are level on four points with Ghana after
two games but top Group E on goal difference while
Guinea have three and Togo, the Cranes' opponents,
are yet to win a match.

Coach Micho Sredojevic's Uganda take to this game
well aware that victory will edge them closer to
ending 37 years of absence from the Nations Cup
finals, while anything less will deal the Cranes a
big blow.

As for his Togo counterpart Tchakala Tchanilé,
defeat will practically end their campaign, which
makes the game a make or break affair for them.

Uganda come into this on the back of a 1-1 away
stalemate with Ghana and a 2-0 dismissal of
Guinea, thanks to a Geoffrey Massa brace.

Togo have lost all their matches to Guinea 2-1
away and to Ghana 3-2 at home. They must beat
Uganda to keep breathing.

And Micho knows their situation makes the Sparrow
Hawks an even more dangerous outfit. “I need
just to say that Togo is a very good team, that
Togo is counting the game on Saturday as a make or
break match,” said Micho ahead of the tie.

“And as such we need to give them respect but
not over respect; but in the same moment we need
to challenge ourselves, to show that we have not
come where we are in this group by accident.”

Micho is expected to start with just about the
same team that started against Guinea last month.

The Serbian will hope goalkeeper Dennis Onyango
shakes off a niggling shoulder injury in time for
the game although Robert Odongkara is an able
replacement should the Mamelodi Sundowns man fail
to make it.

Skipper Andy Mwesigwa will man the defence
alongside either Isaac Isinde or Savio Kabugo,
with Godfrey Walusimbi and Dennis Guma as full
backs.

The group will be charged with keeping Tottenham
Hospur star man Emmanuel Adebayor, who leads
Togo's all-time scoring charts with 27 goals,
quiet.

Tonny Mawejje, Geoffrey 'Baba' Kizito and Khalid
Aucho are expected to run the midfield and will be
charged with limiting the Ayite brothers', Floyd
and Jonathan, space and orchestrating the Cranes'
attacks.

Kizito Luwagga, who has impressed in Uganda's last
two games against Guinea and Ghana, should start
on the left midfield with Geoffrey Massa and
possibly Brian Umony interchanging roles up
front.

Uganda and Togo have met four times, with
Saturday's visitors winning two of them; 3-0 and
0-3 home and away, in the 2002 Nations Cup
qualifiers. The Cranes will be looking for their
first win off the West Africans.

Uganda probable X1
Dennis Onyango, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andy Mwesigwa
(cpt), Isaac Isinde, Dennis Guma, Khalid Aucho,
Godfrey 'Baba' Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Kizito
Luwagga, Brian Umony, Geoffrey Massa

Substitutes: Robert Odongkara, Savio Kabugo, Brian
Majwega, Moses Oloya, Emmanuel Okwi, Yunus
Ssentamu, Daniel Sserunkuma

Togo squad:
Goalkeepers: Agassa Kossi (Reims), Djihani Nguissa
(Dyto)

Defenders: Akakpo Serge (Horvela), Tawali Magnima
(AS Douane), Ouro Akoriko Sadate (Amazulu FC),
Donou Kokou (Maranatha), Mawouna Amevor (Go Ahead
Eagles), Kousso Kodjovi Nono (Bayern-Munich)
Nouwoklo Martin Kossivi (Maranatha) and Djene
Dakonam (AD Alcordon)

Midfielders: Alaixys Romao (Marseille), Zato
Arouna Farid (Kr Reykjavik), Floyd Ayité
(Bastia), Matthieu Dossevi (Olympiakos), Segbafia
Prince (Zorya Lugansk), Atakora Lalawelé (AIK)
and Womé Dové (SuperSport United).

Strikers: Peniel Mlapa (Nuremberg), Serge Gakpé
(Nantes), Jonathan Ayité (Alanyaspor), Emmanuel
Adebayor (Tottenham), Abraw Calmadine (Free State
Stars) and Mama Zougou Nazif (Semassi)

Source - Ghanasoccer

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