The head coach of the Cranes of Uganda Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, is satisfied with his side’s zero all draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their first Group B game at the TotalEnergies CHAN 2022 in Algeria, but says the Leopards should be happier.
The Cranes put up a spirited fight against two-time winners DR Congo at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba on Saturday, a performance deemed satisfactory by their gaffer Milutin Sredojević.
“I am very happy about how my team has played this evening. Tactically we applied ourselves very well. There was theoretical awareness,” Sredojevic said.
“Unfortunately we were depleted when we got into the final third. This is something we will have to work on going to the game against Ivory Coast and Senegal.
“When you play against a good opponent, you have five zones you need to dominate and one of them is the middle of the park where we won more of our fifty-fifty balls.”
We were defensively organized against players with lots of experience… In my opinion, DR Congo should be happier with a point. The next two matches now are like a cup which my team must go for results.
MichoThe Ugandan coach lauded the efforts from his side, and suggested that DR Congo was lucky enough to get a point out of the game.
“We were defensively organized against players with lots of experience. When you play against a good team like DR Congo you are not expected to have too many chances but today am very happy with the efforts from our boys.
“In my opinion DR Congo should be happier with a point. The next two matches now are like a cup which my team must go for results.”
Uganda now has two games to battle for a place in the quarter finals of the competition, a stage they have never reached in their last five participations. Sredojevic again highlighted the importance of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship, to the growth of Ugandan football.
“For us in Uganda, it is a perfect platform. Our players are here to sell their stock and fighting for position in the senior national team which helps in the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.”
The Cranes will next play Senegal on January 18, before wrapping up the group stage with a game against Ivory Coast on January 22.
