Headache for Micho as Zimbabwe mauls Uganda Cranes

Friendly result

TUESDAY: Zimbabwe 2 Uganda 0

Nations Cup fixture

SATURDAY: Botswana vs Uganda (live on SuperSport 5pm)

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was left with a headache that he must sort in three days ahead of  his team’s 2017 AFCON qualifier against Botswana. Micho must ensure Cranes find their scoring boots, but also do not concede in the make or break match on Saturday.

The Zimbabwe national team beat Uganda 2-0 in an international friendly at Rufaro Stadium. Cranes travel to Botswana on Friday.

Chicken Inn’s Teenage Hadebe was the hero as he scored with two powerful headers in the first half.

Uganda’s Germany-based Melvyn Lorenzen was given his debut and came closest to scoring for Cranes, hitting the wood-work in the first half.

Zimbabwe used the match to prepare for their own upcoming AFCON qualifier against Malawi and the COSAFA Cup.

Uganda Cranes XI: Robert Odongkara (G.K), Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Isaac Isinde (Ochaya), Murushid Jjuko, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Luwagga William Kizito (Kasirye ), Yassar Mugerwa (Mawejje), Geofrey Massa (Lubega ), Lorenzen Melvyn (Aucho ), Emmanuel Okwi (Ssekisambu).

Standings with 2 games to go in 2017 Afcon qualifiers

Group D        P  W  D   L  F  A Pts

B. Faso            4    2    1   1   3   1    7

Uganda           4    2    1   1   3   1    7

Botswana       4    2    0   2   3   4    6

Comoros         4    1    0   3   2   5    3

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Iheanacho scores again as Nigeria win

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |

At Harare: Zimbabwe 2 (Hadebe 7, 30) Uganda 0

At Nairobi : Kenya 1 (Mandela 90+4) Sudan 1 (Hamid 24)

At Luxembourg City : Luxembourg 1 (Thill 90) Nigeria 3 (Ideye 36, Iheanacho 69, Ighalo 90+2)

Monday: At Bakau, Gambia – Gambia 0 Zambia 0
Manchester City teenager Kelechi Iheanacho completed a memorable European tour with Nigeria by scoring in a 3-1 friendly international victory over Luxembourg Tuesday.

His first senior international goal gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory over Mali in French city Rouen last Friday at the start of a two-match visit by the three-time African champions.

Iheanacho, scorer of 14 goals in all competitions last season for City, struck on 79 minutes in Luxembourg City to give Nigeria a two-goal advantage.

Recalled Brown Ideye, who plays for Greek champions Olympiakos, had opened the scoring nine minutes before half-time.

Vincent Thill shook the Nigerians by reducing the deficit as the game entered stoppage time, but Odion Ighalo of Watford put the outcome beyond doubt with a third goal for the visitors.

While most African teams play Cup of Nations qualifiers this week, out-of-contention Nigeria will be idle because group opponents Chad withdrew halfway through the competition due to a lack of funds.

A first-half Teenage Hadebe brace earned Zimbabwe a 2-0 victory over Uganda on an artificial pitch in Harare.

Brian Mandela scored four minutes into stoppage time in Nairobi to salvage a 1-1 draw for Kenya against Sudan, who went ahead during the opening half through Nizar Hamid.

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Kaizer Chiefs release Ugandan players

Amakhosi have confirmed the release of 21 players. Ugandan players Ivan Bukenya and Sula Matovu were also put on transfer.