Cranes battle Kenya, then fly to face Mali

⚽ TODAY: 🇺🇬 Uganda vs Kenya 🇰🇪  4PM
⚽ SUNDAY: 🇲🇱 Mali vs Uganda 🇺🇬

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has predicted two tough games as his boys wind their Group E 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup qualifiers with an East African derby against Kenya, then fly out immediately to face Mali.

Uganda Cranes assistant captain Khalid Aucho, said that his fellow players are however in a buoyant mood ahead of the derby. Uganda Cranes can make it to the next round of qualifiers if they win their last two games.

“What I think the pressure is on the fans and maybe in the media. but we the players are confident. There is no pressure we are just relaxed, we are okay because we know what we are going to do in the match,” Aucho stated.

The Uganda Cranes received a boost on Tuesday with the arrival of Scottish based inform defender Bevis Mugabi who plays for Motherwell FC.  Micho says the addition of Mugabi will create healthy competition in the team, adding that the player will replace the injured Enock Walusimbi.

Uganda Cranes will enter the tie without team captain Emmanuel Okwi who just signed for new Rwanda Premier League outfits Kiyovu SC. He was left out to settle with his new team, which is also preparing for the kick-off of the domestic league.

Uganda Cranes defensive department will also miss the services of experienced defender Murushid Juuko who was sent off during the Mali tie for apparently elbowing his opponent. The player was suspended for two matches including the automatic match suspension, which he served during Rwanda vs Uganda match played on Oct 7 2021 meaning that he was eligible to take part in the Kenyan encounter.

Uganda Cranes are second in Group E with eight points, two points below the table leaders Mali. In their first engagements, Uganda registered two goalless draws against Kenya and Mali.

According to the qualifiers’ format, the team that finishes on top of the group will advance to the third round.

In this round, ten teams that top all their respective groups will be drawn into five home-and-away ties. The winners of each fixture will advance to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Uganda Cranes squad:

Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago (St George, Ethiopia), Isma Watenga (Chippa United, South Africa), Mathias Kigonya (Azam, Tanzania), Joel Mutakubwa (Express, Uganda)

Defenders: Denis Iguma (KCCA, Uganda), Gavin Kizito Mugweri (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Žižkov, Czech Republic), Abdul-Aziizi Kayondo (Vipers, Uganda), Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell, Scotland), Livingstone Mulondo (Vipers, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Geofrey Waswa (KCCA, Uganda)

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Young Africans, Tanzania), John Revita (KCCA, Uganda), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers, Uganda), Mahad Kakooza (Express, Uganda), Moses Waiswa (Super Sport United, South Africa), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA, Uganda), Allan Okello (AC Paradou, Algeria), Julius Poloto (KCCA, Uganda)

Forwards: Fahad Bayo (FC Ashdod, Israel), Yunus Junior Sentamu (Vipers, Uganda), Steven Desse Mukwala (URA, Uganda), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers, Uganda), Martin Kizza (Express, Uganda), Milton Karisa (Vipers, Uganda)

*****

URN