Henry Musabe: How Uganda Cranes Players Rated In a Disappointing Draw With Niger.

Henry Musabe: How Uganda Cranes Players Rated In a Disappointing Draw With Niger.

Uganda Cranes and Niger settled to a 1-1 draw in the 2023 Total Energies Afica Cup of Nations Qualifiers group F clash.

Milton Karisa scored first in the second half for the hosts and later Amadou Dabo found the very important goal for the visitors.

Uganda is bottom placed and has only managed a point from two games after loosing to Algeria days ago.

Henry Musabe rates Uganda Cranes Players’ performance out of 10 after a disappointing home draw against Niger.

Charles Lukwago – 4.5

Not very busy on the day, made a few saves, I believe he could have done better on the goal conceded if he wasn’t caught off his line.

Gavin Kizito Mugweri- 4

Had an impressive first half making constant tackles and was lucky not to get an early booking.

The former U-20 captain, looked solid defensively but lucking going forward and he could do better on his crosses.

Aziz Kayondo -6

The best performer for me on the day. The U-20 graduate replaced an experienced Isaac Muleme in the XI but was so impressive going forward and helping to cover his backline with his speed.

He could however improve on his deliveries in the area.

Bavis Mugabi -4

The lanky Motherwell defender is credited for his aerial clearances most especially in set pieces but then looked not so comfortable in possession.

Halid Lwaliwa -4.5

With little threat from Niger atack, Uganda’s backline didnot have much work to do but then the few attacks that were made, they looked unsettled with Mugabi.

Khalid Aucho -4

Another experienced player in the middle of the park, credited for his physicality, interceptions and blocks but his passing was demanding, registered many blind passes.

Bobosi Byaruhanga -5.5

The young Midfielder who also came in the XI for Youngman, was impressive, dictated play, tried his trademark long range shot and he is further credited for setting up Allan Kyambadde who was denied by the Goalkeeper. However, he could have done better in decision making, he decided to shoot at one occasion when he wasnt ready and would have passed the ball to Okwi to score.

Farouk Miya -3

Another bad day in office for the Golden boy, he looked rusty, at half time, the fans were asking Micho to replace him.

Miya put to waste two great chance; one when Bayo blocked Goalkeeper Kassali’s clearance and when he was set up by Bayo but his effort went inches off the mark.

Milton Karisa- 5.5

A very workholic player ran down Niger defence, he looked the most dangerous player for Uganda, not surprised his effort gave the hosts the lead.

Emmanuel Okwi -3.5

Looked composed on an occasion when he tried to beat the whole defense, but couldn’t get the break through. And the team captain got another chance to put his country in the lead but wasn’t clinical enough.

He looked exhausted in the second half and one could easily believe he had to be replaced but the Karisa was stretched off Injured.

Fahad Bayo -5

Brought in the starting XI after missing the Algeria game, his physical presence was felt, he set up Miya who didnot find the target. And also credited for blocking the goal keeper’s clearance another great chance that fell to Miya who failed to use it.

Substitutes

Muhammed Shaban – 3.5

You can hardly remember the impact of the Onduparaka who was thrown in for Bayo late in the second half.

Isaac Muleme -3.5

He was introduced as a left back when Micho changed to a 3:5:2 system, to bring in crosses but one can hardly remember a good delivery from him for the minutes he played.

Allan Kyambadde – 4

Brought in for the injured Karisa, he was eye-catching and entertaining to the fans, looked composed but he could have scored that great chance when he was set up by Bobosi.

Allan Okello -4

There was some calmness and added creativity in the middle of the park when he came on but the team couldn’t find the break through.

Micho Sredjovic -3

The team’s home display against what we may refer to as the weakest team in the group was wanting.

In a must home win, one could easily argue that the coach would use most of his creative players in his XI; Okello, Kyambadde, Mutyaba to get the goals because at many occasions it was evident that the team was lacking creativity