Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has revealed that his strategy that suffocated the Black Stars in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday was to deny Asamoah Gyan and Christian Atsu that resulted in his side getting the draw in Kumasi.

Uganda Cranes showed nerves as they battled to a 1-1 draw against hosts Ghana in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Baba Yara Stadium Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday.

Ghana’s leading all-time scorer and skipper Asamoah Gyan was kept at bay for long periods of the game while Everton playmaker Atsu was the denied the opportunity of using his skills through tight marking. Uganda coach Sredojevic said his strategy of denying Ghana’s two key players the balls confused the Black Stars plans of executing that plans for the game.

“We planned to limit balls to Asamoah Gyan. We succeeded. Also to stifle Atsu. We succeeded,” Sredojevic told Ghana Television after the game in Kumasi on Saturday.

The home side, who were under lots of pressure after their poor performance at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, benefitted from a penalty decision in the 46th minute after Waris Majeed went down.

Dede Ayew converted past goalkeeper Dennis Onyango who had a good game for the Uganda.

Iceland-based midfielder Tony Mawejje had given the visitors the lead in the 44th minute with a hard shot after the Ghanaian defenders failed to clear a loose ball.

The Black Stars returned hungry in the second half and netted the equalizer, but Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s team stood firm and defended well.