International friendly
Saturday
Uganda vs Ivory Coast, Abu Dhabi
Uganda Cranes are set to play their final build-up match this Saturday against Ivory Coast ahead of next week’s AFCON finals in Egypt. The Cranes, who are 1978 losing finalists, face the two-time champions (1992, 2015) at the New York University stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Uganda played to a disappointing barren stalemate against little known Asian country Turkmenistan in the first international build-up game last Sunday and head coach Sebastien Desabre believes that a test against the giant West African nation will give him final team direction at the prestigious tournament that kicks off next week.
“We know it is important to defend very well but we need to score. We have improved tactically after the Abu Dhabu camp. Ivory Coast will give us chance to try out different tactics, dimensions and game approach,” noted Desabre, who is heading for his first AFCON tournament. Uganda is in group A and opens the AFCON campaign against DRC before facing Zimbabwe and record champions Egypt respectively. Ivory Coast meanwhile are in group D along with Morocco, Namibia and South Africa.
