Cote d'Ivoire setting sights on the Uganda Cranes scalp in Marrakech

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Monday Jan 22, 2018. 11:30

Cote d’Ivoire will be gunning for their maiden win at their 2018 CAF African Nations Championship in their final Group B match when they face Uganda on Monday.

The Group B encounter is set to produce fireworks as both nations are yet to taste a victory after playing two matches so far.

Coach Ibrahim Kamara’s troops have failed to live up to their quality as they have suffered two successive losses in the group.

They were stunned 1-0 by Namibia and their second loss came against Zambia to dump them out of this year’s competition.

Resulting from the two defeats, they are now placed at the bottom with zero points.

“Zambia performed well and showed that they have what it takes to thrive in a competition of this nature,” Kamara said after losing to Zambia.

“We came here to prove ourselves but it did not work. We are disappointed. We have to win and keep a smile on the faces of our fans at least and to leave with our heads high.”

Looking at Uganda, the East Africans came to the tournament with high hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

However, their new coach in Sebastien Desabre is yet to find combinations in the team and has vowed to make changes for this encounter.

The Cranes have lost twice in the group, to Zambia and Namibia and occupy number three with no points resulting from the two defeats.

Based on statistics, this will be the third competitive encounter involving the two countries. Kamara’s side has one win as well as a single draw.

The match will be staged at Stade de Marrakech on Monday at 19:00 (CAT).