The Cranes got an early lead after five minutes into the game through Moses Oloya.

Farouk Miya scored the second goal in the 14th minute to make it 2-0 going into the half time break.

Some of the female Uganda Cranes fans in the stands at the Armed Forces Stadium in Abu Dhabi (Photo by FUFA)

Twelve minutes into the second half, Denis Vavro pulled one back for Slovakia with his team fighting for a comeback.

However Geoffrey Massa sealed Uganda’s win when he scored in the 77^th minute to shatter the Slovenian’s hopes of getting anything from the game.

The game was free of charge and hundreds of Ugandan fans turned up to support their team.

Uganda have experienced mixed results with a 1-0 win over Slovenia on Friday, 6th January, 2017 and a 2-0 loss to Tunisia in their previous friendly.

The Cranes will finalise their preparations for the AFCON with a friendly against reigning champions Ivory Coast on Wednesday 11th, January at the New York University Stadium in Dubai.

Uganda is in Group D alongside Egypt, Ghana and Mali. They will play their first match on the 17th against Ghana before going head to head with Egypt on 21st, January 2017.

Team Line Ups:

Slovakia XI: Michal Sulla (46′ Adam Jakubech), Denis Vavro, Filip Orsula (85′ Pavol Safranko), Martin Bukata (70′ Miroslav Kacer), Thomas Malec (70′ David Guba), Roman Gergel (70′ Thomas Huk), Filip Hlohovsky (Captain), Jakub Holubek, Martin Kralik, Michal Skvarka, Juraj Kotula (46′ Martin Sulek)

Subs Not Used: Dominik Kruzliak, Jan Krivak, Patrik Misak,  Matus Conka, Martin Dubravka

Head Coach: Jan Kozak

Uganda Cranes XI: Robert Odongkara (G.K), Nico Wakiro Wadada (63′ Nico Wakiro Wadada), Joseph Ochaya, Timothy Dennis Awanyi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (46′ Murushid Jjuuko), Geofrey Kizito, Tonny Mawejje, Moses Oloya (46′ Geofrey Massa), William Luwagga Kizito (82′ Godfrey Walusimbi), Faruku Miya (62′ Yunus Sentamu), Muhammed Shaban (62’ Khalid Aucho)

Subs Not Used: Dennis Onyango (G.K), Shafiq Batambuze, Isaac Isinde, Michael Azira, Geofrey Sserunkuma, Salim Jamal (G.K)

Match Officials:

Center Referee: Sultan Abdulrazaq Al Marzouqi

1st Assistant Referee: Hassan Suqatari Al Mahri

2nd Assistant Referee: Sabet Al Ali

The post Uganda Cranes beats Slovakia 3-1 in a friendly a head of the 2017 African Cup of Nations. first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Cranes skipper Geoffrey Massa opened the scoring early in the game before a brace from Vipers SC star player Faruku Miya secured a memorable display.

Farouk Miya celebrates after scoring against Togo

Massa scored from a 20 yard thunderbolt that left Djehani Gussad with no chance giving the cranes a 1-0 lead with just four minutes played.

The visitors pilled pressure after going down but failed to break the cranes defence commanded by goalkeeper Dennis Onyango.

Both Uganda and Togo were forced into early substitutions with Cranes replacing injured Khalid Aucho for Geoffrey Kizito while Togo brought Mèmè Placca Fessou for skipper Serge Akakpo.

Cranes continued to press for the second goal and got the breakthrough when an excellent move involving Luwagga Kizito and Godfrey Walusimbi was finished off by Vipers SC star Miya .

With the Uganda Cranes cruising in full gear, Miya sealed the game when he volleyed in a third goal from a brilliant walusimbi cross which was headed back by Massa.

Uganda coach Sredojevic Micho said the Togolese side is not an easy side stating how his boys followed his instructions to score early goals in the match.

“The Togolese side is hard but my boys followed my instructions to score early goals,” he said.

Uganda XI Against Togo:
Dennis Onyango (GK), Iguma Dennis, Joseph Ochaya, Murushidi Juuko, Isaac Isinde, Aucho Khalidi, Tonny Mawejje, William Luwaga Kizito, Miya Farouk, Geoffrey Massa (Capt), Godfrey Walusimbi.

Subs
Robert Ondgokara (GK), Salim Jamal (GK), Oloya Moses, Geoffrey Baba Kizito, Ceaser Okhuti, Umony Brian, Ivan Bukenya, Hamis Diego Kiiza

The post Uganda Cranes cruise into 2018 World Cup group qualifiers first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.