Group D

Team               PD    W    D    L    Pts

Zambia             1      1      0    0    3Mali                  1       0     1    0    1Uganda            1       0     1    0    1Zimbabwe         1      0     0    1    0

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic praised his players following a 2-2 draw with Mali in their first Group D match played on Tuesday at Umuganda stadium.

However, Micho is more concerned by the double injury blow on his key players, skipper Farouk Miya and goalkeeper Ismail Watenga who are vital to Uganda’s hopes in the 4th African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Miya who has so far scored five goals in the  last six international matches, picked up an injury on his left shoulder when he fell down awkwardly after a challenge from an opponent, while Watenga felt a sharp pain in his right thigh after taking a goal kick at the artificial turf in Rubavu.

The former Amavubi coach, Micho, explained that even though he is happy with one point, they need to regroup, analyze and look forward to Saturday’sgame against Zambia if they are to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the last eight.

"We need to take the positives from that game, analyzing deeply what was wrong to upgrade,” said Micho after Tuesday’s entertaining game in which Uganda twice took the lead through Erisa Sekisambu (12th minute) and Miya’s 41st spot kick.

Mali’s Sekou Koita cancelled out Sekisambu’s opener in the 24th minute while Hamidou Sinayoko made sure Mali  got a point midway through the second half.

Both Miya and Watenga will be assessed to get to know the extent of the injuries ahead of Uganda’s next game against Zambia on Saturday. Zambia lead the group after a 1-0 win over archrivals Zimbabwe.

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