Beach Soccer AFCON 2021: Uganda Remains With Only A Survival Bullet In Chamber as they Face TZ

By: Hassan Sendija 

Following a 5-1 embarrassing defeat against the hosts Senegal on Monday, Debutant Uganda Sand Cranes are now left with one chance if they are to make it out of the group of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations underway at Saly Beach Soccer Stadium.

Uganda this evening are playing against neighbors Tanzania in the must group two game win, the encounter is at 7:15pm (East Africa standard Time) at Saly Beach Soccer Stadium Senegal.

The Sand Cranes are up against another tough test, facing the neighbors, they have never won before, only have a draw which was 3-3.

The two sides have had five meetings, Tanzania has managed 4 wins and a draw.

Apart from the better head to head against Uganda, Tanzania has a better pedigree at AFCON Beach soccer with an appearance in 2018 though they are still looking for their maiden win at the tournament.

Looking back into Sand Cranes’ debut game held yesterday against Senegal, the Cranes started slowly but kept on growing into the game and the second period they only conceded one goal and through Isma Kawawulo, they scored their maiden goal in the tournament.

For starters, Royal Mendy, Babacas Fah had a brace while Ninou Diatta was also on score sheet for Senegal.

The Cranes Assistant tactician, Bashir Mutyaba picked positives from the lost game and he believes they are to make improvement in Tanzania encounter.

“we have lost our first game to Senegal, an experienced team, they have been playing at this level and at high level than this like World cup, so we picked some experience from this game which will stick on in our next game, we will avoid our mistakes we committed against Senegal in order to win our next game”

Uganda will have full squad for Tanzania game though it has three absentees from that which last faced Tanzania in 2019.

Godfrey Lwesibawa, Roch Peter and Faiso Muwawu were on the team in 2019 when Uganda last encountered Tanzania.

Uganda only need a win in today’s game.

Previous meeting
2016
Tanzania 7-6 Uganda
2017
Tanzania 6-5 Uganda
2018
Tanzania 10-2 Uganda
Tanzania 2-1 Uganda
2019
Tanzania (0) 3-3 (2) Uganda.