Uganda will tussle it out with continental powerhouse Senegal in their second match at the 2022 African Nations Championships, with victory the sole focus for the former.
Qualification to the knockout stages will be in sight should the Cranes pick all three points against the Lions of Teranga on Wednesday, at the 19 May Stadium, Annaba.
Similarly, defeat will hand head coach Milutin ‘Micho Sredojevic and his charges a huge blow, as they will risk not qualifying from the group stage for a sixth consecutive CHAN competition.
“In the previous five competitions, we haven’t gotten out of the group and so, tomorrow against the Lions of Teranga, it will be a cup final,” said Micho to the media on Tuesday.
“It’s not news if a lion eats a man, but it’s news when a man eats a lion. On Wednesday, it will be us eating lions,” added the Serbian.
Uganda managed a 0-0 stalemate with DRC in the first game, yet the Senegalese opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory against Ivory Coast.
“It’s a match of a high magnitude, a match where we have to build a sense of hunger to survive in the competition,” Micho noted.
“When I say this match is like a cup final, I mean we have to get something out of the game.”
Senegal occupies the Group B summit with three points while Uganda is third with a single point. DRC and Ivory Coast, who are the other group opponents sit second and rock-bottom, respectively.
Photo Credit: FUFA Media
