Wasteful Geoffrey Massa has won the battle to play alongside Eugene Sseppuuya as Uganda’s Cranes go for a huge win in a crucial 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin at Mandela Namboole Stadium this afternoon.
Cranes lost 4-1 to their opponents in June this year and revenge is on their minds.
The striker has not scored for Cranes in over two years, but the situation does not bother him.
“I know people look at my scoring record but this is a team effort. If I don’t score today a teammate will be on the score sheet. What matters is for Cranes to win,” Massa told KickOffEastAfrica.com.
Coach Bobby Williamson backs his strikers to deliver against Benin. “I have gone for experience and am confident they will deliver,” Bobby said.
Bobby has also gone for experience in goal by recalling South Africa based Posnet Omwony in goal ahead of Abbey Dhaira but has handed starting positions to the inexperienced pair of wingers Mike Ssebalinga and Vincent Kayizzi to supply balls to the front two. Omony last featured for Cranes in a 3-2 defeat away to Libya in 2006.
“Vincent (Kayizzi) and Michael (Ssebalinga) are good crossers of the ball and that is a vital aspect in the 4-4-2 formation. You need somebody to deliver the balls into the box,” he told press after the final work out.
The Cranes need a big victory to stand any chance of overhauling Angola from second place in Group 3. The Black Antelopes host Niger in Luanda also this afternoon.
Cranes will be without four regulars that featured in 3-1 defeat away to Niger in their previous match.
Defender Andy Mwesigwa, goalkeeper Denis Onyango (both suspended), Joseph Kabagambe and David Obua (both injury) will be missing.
Cranes Line-up:
1-Posnet Omony, 2-Simeon Massa, 3-Nestroy Kizito, 4-Timothy Batabaire, 5-Ibra Sekagya (captain), 6- Johnson Bagoole, 7-Vincent Kayizzi, 8-Mike Sserumaga, 9- Eugene Sseppuuya, 10-Geoffrey Massa, 11-Mike Ssebalinga
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