The Uganda National Football team; The Cranes has intensified preparations for the world cup qualifiers' games against Kenya and Mali respectively.
Uganda Cranes will host Kenya on November 11, 2021, at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende before visiting Mali on November 14. The journey started with a buildup game against the Northern region select
team which was won by the National tea, 3-1 thanks to goals by Ibrahim Orit, KCCA forward Rogers Mato and URA captain
Shafik Kagimu.
The squad of local-based players, currently camped at Cranes Paradise Hotel
in Kisaasi, was this morning boosted by the arrival of two foreign-based goalkeepers Mathias Kigonya and Chares Lukwago. The team will have another build-up game today against Uganda Premier league side
UPDF-FC where UPDF will be given an extra player to play against the Cranes.
The
Cranes had an impeccable performance completing a doubleheader
against Rwanda, Putting the team in the second position in Group E with eight
points, two points below the table leaders Mali. To reach the playoffs,
the Cranes will need to have two victories in the two ties ahead of
them. In their first engagements, Uganda registered two goalless draws
against Kenya and Mali.
According
to the qualifiers’ format, the team that finishes top of the group will
advance to the playoffs round. Ten teams that top all their
respective groups will be drawn into five home-and-away playoff ties. The winners of
each fixture will advance to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Cranes Coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic
says they are training hard for
their first clash against neighbours Kenya because it will determine their stay in the race for world cup qualifiers.
//Cue
in; we want to approach…
Cue
out…too much at stake.”//
Micho adds that they made technical changes in the team after completing the games against
Rwanda, and he believes his players have received exposure after playing several
games in their respective clubs.
Fahad Muganga
Freelancer