Uganda in Kenya for World Cup derby

Uganda have arrived in Nairobi for their World Cup derby against Kenya, travelling directly from Ethiopia where they lost 2-1 in a weekend friendly at Bahir Dar.

The east African neighbours meet on Thursday at Nyayo National Stadium at the start of their respective World Cup group phase campaigns in a group that also includes Mali and Rwanda, who play in Morocco on Wednesday.

“This will be one more episode of an unending derby between Uganda and Kenya. It is a measurement of test and character,” said coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevich, who is back in the job.

“It will be a very tough match. There is too much at stake. It is very hard to play against players that you know. We shall be playing a team that has very big advantage. Our league is in recess because of the off season. It will be a match where small details will decide. We shall be doing everything that those details go our way,” Micho added.

The squad were met in Nairobi by three foreign-based players who flew in directly for the match from their clubs – Isaac Mueme of Czech club Viktoria Zizkov, Mustapha Kizza from Montreal in Major League Soccer and Derrick Nsimambi who plays for Smouha in Egypt.

Goalkeeper Ismia Watenga from Chippa United and SuperSport United player Moses Waiswa both competed in Sunday’s international after being allowed to leave early to the Uganda camp by their DStv Premiership clubs.

The squad also includes Khaled Aucho, the former Baroka FC midfielder who now plays in Tanzania, striker Patrick Kaddu from Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, and captain Emmanuel Okwi, unattached after the end of his contract at Egypt’s Al Ittihad.

Uganda had been training in Ethiopia ahead of the Group E qualifier and had hoped for a second preparatory game against Sierra Leone, who were also in Ethiopia for a friendly match. But a clash could not be arranged in time before Sierra Leone left to return home.