CECAFA Kagame Cup
Express FC vs Yanga Africans FC
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Saturday, 07-08-2021 @4pm
Express FC head coach Wasswa Bbosa says that he expects a better performance when his side take on Yanga Africans in their final group A game at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup.
The Red Eagles who sit top of group A have a chance to seal a semi final spot if they avoid defeat on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the game, Bbosa says his team is well prepared and they will improve on their performance after attaining proper fitness level.
“After getting done with our last training, we are now well prepared to face one of the best teams in the region, one that also has very good players. Bbosa said.
“We have prepared well and we are the champions of Uganda and what takes us to the field tomorrow (Saturday) is to progress past the group stage. We know that a point or three takes us to the semis and the players know that too.
“We managed to watch how they play and Yanga is a good team. Good enough that the fitness issues have been sorted so we expected to put up a good performance tomorrow (Saturday).”
Express started the competition brightly as they defeated Atlabara 1-0 before they conceded a second half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Nyasa Big Bullets, on Wednesday.
After playing two games this week, they have improved on their fitness after concerns about their lack of activity in the six weeks building up to the tournament, were raised by both the players and technical team.
The main issue for Express has been their inability to consolidate their leads in games and as a consequence, they were made to pay dearly against Big Bullets as Muzamir Mutyaba’s goal on 7 minutes could not be added onto.
Express will continue to be without the services of vice captain Abel Etrude who is serving his final match through suspension. Etrude was sent off in the Red Eagles’ opening match against Atlabara.
Muzamir Mutyaba who scored against Big Bullets has recovered from a knock that saw him taken off at halftime and replaced by Ivan Mayanja. Charles Musiige who started on the bench against Big Bullets is pushing for a start but once again, he is not expected feature at kick-off.
For Yanga, they have drawn both of their opening two games so far and need victory to ensure they progress further.
Despite playing with a second-string side, the Tanzanians have looked fairly good and will definitely ask questions of an Express side that has looked suspect especially in the second halves of their opening two games.
Yanga Africans have no fitness issues and will likely continue in the same set up that has picked two points in as many games so far.
Express are hoping to become the fourth Ugandan side to win the competition. SC Villa (3), KCCA (2) and Police FC (1) are the only Ugandan clubs to win it in the past.
They lost the final in 1994 and 1995 which is their best finish at the competition, to date.
