The 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers reach the halfway mark this weekend with Group E involved in what could be a definitive day on Saturday for some.
While Uganda, Ghana and Guinea can all afford defeat and stay alive in the journey to Morocco 2015, Togo must fight with their lives in Kampala to keep any chances of qualifying.
Uganda are level on four points with Ghana after two games but top Group E on goal difference while Guinea have three and Togo, the Cranes' opponents, are yet to win a match.
Coach Micho Sredojevic’s Uganda take to this game well aware that victory will edge them closer to ending 37 years of absence from the Nations Cup finals, while anything less will deal the Cranes a big blow.
As for his Togo counterpart Tchakala Tchanilé, defeat will practically end their campaign, which makes the game a make or break affair for them.
Uganda come into this on the back of a 1-1 away stalemate with Ghana and a 2-0 dismissal of Guinea, thanks to a Geoffrey Massa brace.
Togo have lost all their matches to Guinea 2-1 away and to Ghana 3-2 at home. They must beat Uganda to keep breathing.
And Micho knows their situation makes the Sparrow Hawks an even more dangerous outfit. “I need just to say that Togo is a very good team, that Togo is counting the game on Saturday as a make or break match,†said Micho ahead of the tie.
“And as such we need to give them respect but not over respect; but in the same moment we need to challenge ourselves, to show that we have not come where we are in this group by accident.â€
Micho is expected to start with just about the same team that started against Guinea last month.
The Serbian will hope goalkeeper Dennis Onyango shakes off a niggling shoulder injury in time for the game although Robert Odongkara is an able replacement should the Mamelodi Sundowns man fail to make it.
Skipper Andy Mwesigwa will man the defence alongside either Isaac Isinde or Savio Kabugo, with Godfrey Walusimbi and Dennis Guma as full backs.
The group will be charged with keeping Tottenham Hospur star man Emmanuel Adebayor, who leads Togo’s all-time scoring charts with 27 goals, quiet.
Tonny Mawejje, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito and Khalid Aucho are expected to run the midfield and will be charged with limiting the Ayite brothers', Floyd and Jonathan, space and orchestrating the Cranes' attacks.
Kizito Luwagga, who has impressed in Uganda’s last two games against Guinea and Ghana, should start on the left midfield with Geoffrey Massa and possibly Brian Umony interchanging roles up front.
Uganda and Togo have met four times, with Saturday’s visitors winning two of them; 3-0 and 0-3 home and away, in the 2002 Nations Cup qualifiers. The Cranes will be looking for their first win off the West Africans.
Uganda probable X1
Dennis Onyango, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andy Mwesigwa (cpt), Isaac Isinde, Dennis Guma, Khalid Aucho, Godfrey ‘Baba’ Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Kizito Luwagga, Brian Umony, Geoffrey Massa
Substitutes: Robert Odongkara, Savio Kabugo, Brian Majwega, Moses Oloya, Emmanuel Okwi, Yunus Ssentamu, Daniel Sserunkuma
Togo squad:
Goalkeepers: Agassa Kossi (Reims), Djihani Nguissa (Dyto)
Defenders: Akakpo Serge (Horvela), Tawali Magnima (AS Douane), Ouro Akoriko Sadate (Amazulu FC), Donou Kokou (Maranatha), Mawouna Amevor (Go Ahead Eagles), Kousso Kodjovi Nono (Bayern-Munich) Nouwoklo Martin Kossivi (Maranatha) and Djene Dakonam (AD Alcordon)
Midfielders: Alaixys Romao (Marseille), Zato Arouna Farid (Kr Reykjavik), Floyd Ayité (Bastia), Matthieu Dossevi (Olympiakos), Segbafia Prince (Zorya Lugansk), Atakora Lalawelé (AIK) and Womé Dové (SuperSport United).
Strikers: Peniel Mlapa (Nuremberg), Serge Gakpé (Nantes), Jonathan Ayité (Alanyaspor), Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham), Abraw Calmadine (Free State Stars) and Mama Zougou Nazif (Semassi)