Aucho and Juuko were named on the bench, as Ntambi started ahead of Halid Lwaliwa
Midfielder Aucho Khalid and Centre back Murushid Juuko watched the Uganda Cranes loss to Tanzania from the the bench, and Coach Sebastien Desabre has come out to defend the tactical decision.
Uganda lost away to Tanzania on a low Sunday, 3-0 in a final Africa Cup of Nations qualification game in National stadium, for the hosts to reach the final tourney in Egypt.
Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre has defended his decision not to field his two starters in a game that carried less weight to Uganda’s ambitions.
Speaking after the loss in Tanzania, the Frenchman explained that the duo were on yellow card, a booking away from missing the AFCON opener in Egypt.
“We rested players (Aucho and Juuko) both in the midfield and defence so as we can have them in our first game in Egypt,” said Desabre.
“It was a difficult choice, but the most important mission for Uganda is in Egypt.
Our objective was to qualify and we managed to achieve that in advance. We now have to work hard to get the team ready for AFCON.”
Desabre started Kirizestom Ntambi in the heart of defence while Vipers duo Taddeo Lwanga partnered Moses Waiswa in the middle of the park.
Cranes looked poor right from the onset, conceding in the 21st minute via Simon Msuva’s strike and the team never recovered.
Erasto Nyoni doubled the lead in the second half from the spot and Aggrey Morris’ header just before the hour mark was an icing on the cake before the referee put an end to Cranes nightmare, and send Tanzania back to AFCON after a 39 year hiatus.
“It was difficult for us today, we conceded an early goal may be we could have done much better.
“We had defensive mistakes, it was difficult today, we played against a team that had big motivation and they had the fans too.”
Uganda who return to AFCON following a 2017 campaign in Gabon, are in Egypt on merit after topping group L with 13 points.
Uganda Cranes XI Vs Tanzania.
Denis Onyango (GK/C), Nicholas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Timothy Away, Kirizestom Ntambi, Taddeo Lwanga, Allan Kyambadde, Moses Waiswa, Faruku Miya, Patrick Kaddu & Emmanuel Okwi
Substitutes: Robert Odongkara (GK) , Magoola Salim (GK) , Joseph Ochaya, Halid Lwaliwa, Murushid Juuko, Juma Sadam, Khalid Aucho, Edrisa Lubega, Allan Okello, Shaban Muhammad & Milton Karisa
Featured Image: Cranes team that started against TZ. FUFA media / Stephen Mayamba
