Cameroon to avoid early clash with Uganda

At the end of a draining goalless affair on Wednesday, the two sides talked of each other in glowing terms.

“I’m happy we played two teams with an ambition to win Chan silverware,” said Uganda coach Micho Sredojevic of Wednesday opponents, Cameroon, and Gabon - who held the Cranes 1-1 three days earlier.

“We didn’t qualify for Chan by chance, we believe in ourselves,” chipped in Cameroon goalkeeper and skipper, Nyame Hugo, “And to hold very good opponents like Uganda at home is a plus, for us.

“It’s also not by accident that Uganda are Cecafa champions.”

Like Uganda, who are making their third successive Chan appearance when the home-based players’ tournament kicks off in Kigali tomorrow, Cameroon’s first target is to progress from the group.

But once that is done with, lessons from Wednesday’s friendly with Uganda in mind; French-speaking Nyame - who addressed the media in Njeru through an interpreter - would rather avoid the Cranes in early knockout clashes if they are to go all the way.

“Like any other team, we want to go in there and try to win silverware,” explained Nyame.

“But after today (Wednesday), we wouldn’t want to meet Uganda in the quarter-finals because they’re really a dangerous side.

“We only want to meet them in the final,” he added, amid chuckles.

For Micho, lack of creativity and killer instinct in front of goal reminds him of the enormous task at hand before Uganda’s opener against Mali in Rubavu next Tuesday.

“We couldn’t physically prepare for these two warm -up games because players were coming straight from league action,” said Micho.

“But two games like these are like 10 training sessions, so we are happy.

“We have got through them with no injuries and now we just have to polish.

“We know we still have some problems, like how to enter attack, create chances and score but those we shall address internally in the remaining six days before our first match.”

The Cranes leave for Rwanda this weekend.'

Chan Build-up matches

Uganda 1-1 Gabon

Uganda 0-0 Cameroon

Uganda’s fixtures

January 19: vs. Mali

January 23: vs. Zambia

January 27: vs. Zimbabwe