Ukraine, Egypt explore preferential trade deal: Zelenskyy    Egypt, Russia's Rosatom review grid readiness for El-Dabaa nuclear plant    Mastercard Unveils AI-Powered Card Fraud Prevention Service in EEMEA Region, Starting from Egypt    Global tour for Korean 'K-Comics' launches in Cairo with 'Hellbound' exhibition    China's factory output expands in June '25    Egyptian pound climbs against dollar at Wednesday's close    New accords on trade, security strengthen Egypt-Oman Relations    Egypt launches public-private partnership to curb c-sections, improve maternal, child health    Gaza under Israeli siege as death toll mounts, famine looms    EMRA, Elsewedy sign partnership to explore, develop phosphate reserves in Sebaiya    Philip Morris Misr announces new price list effective 1 July    Egypt Post discusses enhanced cooperation with Ivorian counterpart    Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa    Egypt in diplomatic push for Gaza truce, Iran-Israel de-escalation    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Egypt, Tunisia discuss boosting healthcare cooperation        Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Uganda's Cranes have plenty to build on after surprise run
Published in Ahram Online on 06 - 07 - 2019

Uganda showed a bold commitment to attacking football as they reached the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages for the first time in 41 years but ultimately paid for lack of experience at the top level.
Poor finishing combined with two defensive mistakes led to their downfall in their round of 16 tie against Senegal as the Cranes lost 1-0 on Friday despite matching their opponents for long periods in an a physical clash.
Perhaps that was not surprising given the yawning gap between the two sets of players at club level.
Senegal's starting line-up included three players from the English Premier league, two in Italy's Serie A, one in Spain's La Liga, three in Ligue 1 and two in the Turkish top flight.
Uganda's, on the other hand, comprised two players based in Tanzania, one each in South Africa, Canada, Croatia, India, Uganda, the Swedish third tier, the English fifth tier and two who are unattached.
But they managed to give Senegal a run for their money and, in their previous match outplayed hosts Egypt despite going down to a 2-0 defeat.
"Lack of experience cost us this defeat," said coach Sebastien Desabre.
"After the goal, we were better and had many chances but unfortunately Senegal were better than us. We were not far from qualification against the best side in this tournament."
Even so, he said Uganda had made important progress since they were knocked out in the group stage two years ago.
"It was a target of the federation to get to the last 16," he said. "We have a long way to go to organise football in Uganda and it's important the national team shows the way."
One of the biggest compliments came from fellow Frenchman Sebastien Migne, coach of their larger neighbours Kenya, who held Uganda up as an example to be followed after his own side went out in the group stage.
Desabre, coach since December 2017, is himself little known in his native France. He only played football semi-professionally and abandoned his career at 26 to concentrate on coaching.
The road to the Uganda led via clubs in Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt and he described taking Uganda to the AFCON as the "high point of my career so far".
Some of his players, meanwhile, have set their sights even higher.
"We came and made it to the round of 16 which was our main target," said Allan Kateregga. "Our next focus is the World Cup -- we want to go to the World Cup."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.