Senegal coach optimistic ahead of World Cup qualifier

Kampala (Uganda), June 9 (IANS) Senegal's head coach Joseph Koto is confident his team will pick three points against Uganda Saturday when the two teams clash in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at Namboole Stadium on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Koto told Xinhua in an interview here that although they arrived late Thursday after a tiring journey, the team is focused to pick another three points like they did in their opening game last weekend.

Senegal beat Liberia 3-1 in Dakar, while Uganda Cranes held Angola to a 1-1 draw in Luanda.

"Although we don't know much about the Ugandan team, we are aware of a few things about them and the home crowd will not scare us. We are here for three points, but at worse we could settle for a draw," said the caretaker coach.

The star-studded Senegal side will be led by Demba Cisse who plies his trade in the English Premiership with Newcastle United.

Leading striker Demba Ba is not part of the team that kept their arrival schedule secret from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Uganda' s football governing body.

Senegal, who upset France in the 2002 World Cup, have been struggling lately and also bowed out in the group stages at this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, hosts Uganda are also raring to go and their coach Bobby Williamson believes his team can win the game.

"Playing at home is always a comfortable territory for my team, but I am aware we are playing a good team and we shall also be at our best to win the game," said Williamson.

The good news for Uganda is the availability of leading striker Geoffrey Massa who missed the trip to Angola because of injury and Brain Umony together with Robert Ssentongo who is the leading striker in the national Bell Lager League.