International Friendly Match: Tunisia 2-0 Uganda Cranes
There are plenty of positives picked from the international friendly match as Tunisia overcame Uganda 2-0 under cold conditions at the El Menzah Olympic Stadium in Tunis.
Hamza Lahmar and Mohamed Ali Yâakoubi scored for the home side in each half.
Lahmar scored the first in the 7th minute via a direct free-kick and the second was a headed attempt from yet another free-kick as the second half kicked off.
Uganda Cranes got close when Tonny Mawejje had a long range 30th minute effort settle on the goal up right and later in the half Muzamiru Mutyaba, a second half substitute headed onto the cross bar from fellow substitute, Faruku Miya.
Micho tested the players in the different positions and he is yet to come up with the final 23 man squad.
All the six Uganda Cranes substitutes named for the game were given a run in to the game at some stage of the match.
Mike Azira, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda and historic captain Geofrey Massa were booked for various reasons during the game.
Meanwhile, Portuguese-based midfielder William Luwagga Kizito arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday.
The head coach will announce the final 23 man squad and the stand by players, hours to come as a requirement set by CAF to beat the 4th January 2017 deadline.
Moments after the game, Micho disclosed to the football radio 102.1 FUFA f.m that he was satisfied with the performance of the team ahead of two more international build ups;
Happy for open play of the match. We rested 7 players who passed the test for the 23 man squad.
Today, we have checked 17 players. However, three players (a goalkeeper, midfielder and striker) will have to return home as we continue with the journey to Dubai for another training camp.
There is need to polish up on set pieces. I am impressed by the mental and physical strength of the players.
Micho’s voice was also echoed by one of the senior players on the team, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda;
As players, we have picked positives from the game. We showed character throughout the match. We have not managed to score but we showed intent in front of goal.
The players selected for the final tournament are all determined and motivated to represent the country
The 7 players who did not feature in the game against Tunisia are Dennis Onyango, Robert Odongkara, William Luwagga, Nicholas Wadada, Murushid Jjuuko, Joseph Ochaya and Moses Oloya.
Uganda is set for a second training camp in Dubai where they will still play two build up matches against Slovakia and Cote D’Ivoire on the 8th and 11th January 2017 respectively.
Team Line ups:
Uganda Cranes XI: Salim Jamal, Denis Iguma, Shafik Batambuze, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Isaac Isinde, Geofrey Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Mike Azira, Geofrey Massa, Yunus Sentamu, Edrisa Lubega
Substitutes: Benjamin Ochan, Godfrey Walusimbi, Timothy Dennis Awany, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Shaban Muhammad, Faruku Miya
Tunisia XI: Balbouli, Mathlouthi, Ben Youssef, Yaakoubi, Maaloul, Azouni, Sassi, Hamza Lahmar, Sliti, Msakni, Khenissi
Credit: FUFA
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