Cranes ready for Congo Brazzaville battle

Uganda Cranes will take nothing for granted when they battle hosts Congo Brazzaville in a Group E match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Although the match will not have bearing since Egypt already qualified from the group, the Cranes team has vowed go all out to give a good account and win the game at the Unite De Kintele Stadium on Sunday.

“We are going to fight for our country and make sure we get a good result,”assistant captain Hassan Wasswa Mawanda said.

Interim coach, Moses Basena, also made it clear that the team is geared towards completing the qualifiers on a high.

The team arrived in Congo Brazzaville on Friday and had light training at the Stade Alphonse Massamba Debat. Joseph Mutaka, the team’s media officer told URN that all the players are in good shape.

Meanwhile, Senegal became the third African country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup when they defeated hosts South Africa 2-0 last night at the Peter Mokb Stdium in Polokwne.

Diafra Sakho netted the opening goal after 12 minutes before a own goal by Bafana Bafana defender Thamsanqa Mkhize were enough to send Senegal back to the World Cup after 16 years’ absence.

The two sides meet again in Dakar on Tuesday in a game.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria who drew 1-1 last night with Algeria and Egypt are the other two African nations that have already qualified for the world’s biggest football showpiece.

Two more places are up for grabs for Africa in the World Cup qualifiers this weekend with Morocco, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and DR Congo all targeting the slots.