Uganda Cranes and the Black Stars of Ghana renew acquaintances this Saturday September 6 at the Baba Yara stadium in the 2015 Africa Nations Cup Group E tie in what will be the eleventh meeting in history.
The two sides clashed first in 1962 but their recent meeting dates five years back ago. Kawowo Sportsà Ismael Kiyongaà takes a closer look at the Saturday encounter citing reason why odds are stacked against Mulitin ââ¬ËMichoââ¬â¢ Sredojevicââ¬â¢s charges.
Cranes Poor Record on the Road:
The previous 14 years has seen only three away victories for The Cranes in either AFCON or World Cup qualifiers. Following the 2-1 win against Malawi in Blantyre in 2000, Cranes managed a 1-0 victory over Guinea Bissau in 2011 and most recent a slim 1-0 victory over Mauritania in the previous round of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.
This makes the trip to Ghana a daunting one though Cranes snatched a 1-1 draw in the 2004 AFCON qualifiers thanks to Assan Bajope early strike which was only cancelled by a late Ghana strike.
Whether The Cranes pick a point or three from Kumasi remains to be seen but nothing is impossible in football
Pedigree:
The talk of minnows shocking the giants in World football has become a norm but that doesnââ¬â¢t take away some teamsââ¬â¢ pedigree.
Ghana have been African champions four times, played at three consecutive World Cups and produced many great footballers including Abedi Pele, Sammy Kuffour, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari among others.
Not that pedigree alone wins you matches but sometimes plays a role.
Ghana hold better record against Uganda:
Ghana and Uganda have previously met ten (10) times in different competitions and international friendlies with The West Africans boosting six wins against two.
One of the two wins for Uganda came in 2000 in an international friendly and then a 1-0 victory at Namboole in the 2002 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.
In those meetings, Ghana has scored 17 goals against Ugandaââ¬â¢s 7.
Head to Head Statistics [Played 10, won 2, lost 6, drawn 2]
10/10/62 International Friendly: Ghana 4-1Ã Uganda
30/9/64 Independence Tournament: Ghana 2-0Ã Uganda
23/10/64 International:à Ugandaà 0-2 Ghana
18/3/78 Afcon final: Ghana 2-0Ã Uganda
25/10/00 International:à Ugandaà 2-1 Ghana
07/9/02 Afcon Qlfrs:à Ugandaà 1-0 Ghana
22/6/03 Afcon Qlfrs: Ghana 1-1à Ugandaà 03/7/04
Fifa World Cup Qlfrs:à Ugandaà 1-1 Ghana
04/9/05 Fifa World Cup Qlfrs: Ghana 2-0Ã Uganda
31/5/09 International: Ghana 2-1Ã Uganda