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Uganda, Burkina Faso meet in key clash

football22 March 2021 14:05| © Backpage TXT
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Emmanuel Arnold Okwi © Backpagepix

Uganda and Burkina Faso will meet for a key clash in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, set for the Mandela National Stadium in Kira on Wednesday, kick-off at 3pm CAT.

The Burkinabe top the standings on eight points, with the Cranes just one point behind. Malawi (four points) and South Sudan (three points) complete the quartet scrapping for two berths at the finals in Cameroon early next year.

The Stallions racked up four points from their two matches against the Flames when the qualifiers were last in action in November 2020, putting them in a strong position to return to the Afcon after missing the last edition in 2019.

Coach Kamou Malo is taking nothing for granted after naming a strong squad, though Covid-19 travel restrictions means he is set to be without key men Steeve Yago and Cyrille Bayala.

“We will need to be at our best as the qualifiers for Afcon come to an end,” said Malo. “It is our hope to return to the tournament and we must fight hard for this goal.”

Uganda, meanwhile, had mixed results in their double header against South Sudan in November last year, winning 1-0 at home in Entebbe, before a 1-0 reverse in the return game in Nairobi (with South Sudan’s national stadium being renovated) which stymied their chances of moving to within touching distance of qualification.

Uganda have gone through some coaching turmoil in the lead up to this international window, with Johnathan McKinstry suspended by their FA, and Abdallah Mubiru taking the reins on a temporary basis. They will also be without key man Khalid Aucho, who was dismissed from the Cranes squad last week.

“As I have already said, winning at home remains very pertinent and important," said Mubiru. "Winning against Burkina Faso at home will give us confidence and this will motivate the team heading into the away contest against Malawi.”

In head-to-head stats, Uganda and Burkina Faso have met seven times in international football dating back to 2004. The Stallions have claimed two wins compared to one for the Cranes, while four games have been drawn. When the teams met in their first Group B match, in Ouagadougou in November 2019, they played to a goalless stalemate.

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