Uganda Cranes could take a massive step to a second Africa Nations Cup appearance in two years when they engage Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in their second 2019 Afcon qualifier this Saturday.
The Cranes claimed a 1-0 away win to Cape Verde in their opening Group L tie against a team viewed as their main rivals for the top spot. A second win would put the national team in a strong position to qualify for the next Afcon due in Cameroon in June 2019.
Sebastien Desabre’s charges kicked off their preparations for the crucial game last Saturday at StarTimes Stadium Lugogo and entered residential camp Tuesday this week.
“The morale of players is high in camp and everyone is ready for the game once given the opportunity,” said Saddam Juma, one of the few locally based players in the squad.
The Tanzania contingent is expected in the country today (Thursday) but the team is likely to be without six of its key players who new coach Emmanuel Amunike dropped for turning up late.
The Tanzanians, however, will have their most dangerous player, Gen striker Mbwana Samatta in town. In our last 13 encounters with Tanzania in all competitions, the Cranes have recorded seven wins, drawn three and lost three, meaning they come into this game as favourites.
Nevertheless, recent history hasn’t been friendly to Uganda when it has faced off with its regional rivals in Afcon qualifiers, failing to win as favourites against both Rwanda and Kenya at crucial times in qualifying campaigns in 2003 and 2011.
Uganda leads the way on three points in Group L, with Tanzania and Lesotho tied on one point each. The Cranes’ next game will be against Lesotho on October 10, 2018.