Uganda, Gambia share spoils in friendly

The Cranes of Uganda and the Gambia’s Scorpions played out an entertaining one-all draw in a friendly on Tuesday (9 June 2015) at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in  Namboole, Kampala.

The hosts took the lead when second half substitute, Robert Sentongo, who replaced Yunus Sentamu at the break scored with a great headed effort past goalkeeper, Modou Jobe in the 61

The visitors levelled twelve minutes later through debutant Omar Jagne after defender Shafik Bakaki hesitated to clear the ball out of danger.

The international friendly come barely four days to the two team’s AFCON 2017 opening qualifiers. The Cranes are due to host the Zebra of Botswana whilst the Scorpions trek to Durban as guests of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 13 June 2015.

The friendly saw Gambia coach Raoul Savoy hand debuts to six players including Mustapha Carayol of England second-tier side, Middlesbrough and Swansea City’s winger Modou Barrow who only committed his future last month.

The Scorpions will depart for Johannesburg en route to Durban on Wednesday morning for their first qualifier as the West African country is eyeing a first qualification to the showpiece continental football tournament.

The other Group M match will see Cameroon hosting Mauritania on Sunday, 14 June 2015 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.