The sea is calm, Cranes are back in training and all focus is on the task at hand, the Friday, July 5th, 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations tie Round of 16 tie against Senegal.

Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre believes the team’s sit-down strike over unpaid allowances and bonuses by FUFA and how it was solved is a motivation factor going into the game.

“The situation made us very strong and we were able to benefit positively,” Desabre said on Thursday afternoon going into the tie.

“It’s an opportunity for us to play against Senegal, it’s a big challenge but the boys are well prepared for the challenge.”

Playing at the round of 16 gives Cranes an opportunity to knock out the best team of the Africa continent as per FIFA rankings, and qualify for the last eight.

How they handle themselves through the game will be of much importance and the Frenchman knows it.

“It’s not the same game against Egypt, to beat Stengel we have to score, and we believe we will be able to score the goals.”

We know Senegal is a good team with a good coach and good players, but we have our Qualities. We need to be focussed like we were against DR Congo, and score our chances, we need to be better than we were against Egypt and Zimbabwe.”

The last time Uganda played Senegal was in 2017, a friendly game that ended 0-0 in Dakar before they defeated Cape Verde in the first game of the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes Probable XI: Denis Onyango (GK) ©, Bevis Mugabi, Hassan Wasswa, Murushid Jjuuko, Godfrey Walusimbi, Khalid Aucho, Mike Azira, Abdu Lumala, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi, Patrick Kaddu