Prior to the match in Yaounde on Monday, the big talk was on two old friends Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry and Zambia’s Chipolopolo Milutin Micho Sredojevic. Both coaches had targets to hit in this match. McKinstry came out on top with Uganda Cranes winning 2-0 against Zambia. Vianne Sekajugo and Steven Mukwala netted the two goals. Uganda has now managed four points from the opening two matches.
Uganda Cranes drew 1-1 with Cameroon on New Year’s Day and will wind up their build up preparations in Yaounde durin the Pre- CHAN Mini Tournament with a match against Niger on Thursday 7th January 2021.
Joackiam Ojera in action against Cameroon on New Year’s Day
Micho took Uganda back to AFCON Finals after 39 years of waiting in 2016, so there was every reason for emotions and news headlines to be created ahed of the reunion.
FUFA Media caught up with both coaches after the match.
Uganda Cranes Coach Johnathan McKinstry
We are very pleased following our second game here in Cameroon after what was a very positive performance against the host Nation a few days ago with ten men. We decided to basically change everybody in the team.
We made ten changes in the starting lineup but maintained one in Tonny Mawejje and that was purely to make sure the midfield had the right balance. We knew before the game that he would come out at halftime and Shafik Kagimu would come in.
Hassan Ssenyonjo came on a substitute in the second half
We knew what substitutes would be made. The players knew what would happen at half time. Overall, I thought that the ten players who came in put up a good performance.
To win 2-0 against a quality Zambia team, I felt we deserved it because we created quality chances in the game.
There is no doubt Zambia created chances as well but I felt they were more of half-chances compared to ours which were quality chances. When you create good chances you are most probably going to score.
I was pleased with the guys (players). I was pleased with their application.
If anything, I thought this was a more difficult game than the Cameroon game. I thought Zambia created more problems for us compared to the Cameroon game, but that then goes back to players to show their resilience and organization.
We are very pleased as coaching staff. We still have work to do but moving in the right direction.
Johnathan McKinstry with his coaching staff
Zambia Head coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic
Uganda used their two chances while my team we hit post four times, not scoring and paid the most expensive prices. Congratulations to Uganda upon winning. It was a match between a tired team and well prepared team.
Life after the match. Professional greetings. Micho and McKinstry on Monday after Uganda beat Zambia 2-0
It has been a match helping both teams to prepare well and we have properly tested, tried and experimented before the official matches in CHAN that will be pure reflection how good we have prepared.
