Cranes top Group B with four points, and maximum points on Thursday and in the return leg in Kenya next Monday, will all but guarantee the team’s spot in the AFCON finals for a third straight campaign.
Uganda Cranes is ranked ranked 76 in the FIFA Rankings which were released on (22nd October 2020)
South Sudan, ranked a lowly 168 in FIFA Rankings, will seek to capitalise on their inferior status to cause an upset against a neighbour they pretend to know.
Nicknamed Bright Stars, South Sudan is a young nation that was officially admitted as both a CAF and FIFA member in 2012.
They played their first international match against Uganda on July 10, 2012, ending 2-2 in Juba, and they will be hoping for a repeat in history at least.
The side will be hoping for the best especially from the ‘familiar faces’ like Tito Okello aformer SC Vipers player who plays for Gormahia FC in Kenya, Makueth Wol Akeen Nguet of Mbarara City FC, and Ivan Wani of Busoga United FC,who have had stints in Uganda Premier League and have Uganda roots as well.
The Five Key Players for Uganda are:
Dennis Onyango
Although the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper missed the Dubai training camp in October, the nation will still heavily depend on him in the qualifier.
Being the captain and one of the most experienced figures in the team, Onyango must be in superb form as Uganda fight for a second group win against South Sudan.
Emmanuel Okwi
The winger has been a key member of the Cranes and the South Sudan tie will present him with another opportunity to raise his stake with the national team.
Uganda will need chances being created and that responsibility will squarely lie on Okwi’s shoulders at home.
Farouk Miya
The Cranes would depend on the Konyaspor striker to get enough goals that will count at the end of the qualifiers.
Miya has been active in Turkey and thus fitness worries – as is the case with the local players – should not be on top of coach Johnathan McKinstry’s head before the South Sudan showdown.
Khalid Aucho
The Misr Lel Makkasa midfielder has maintained a regular presence in the Cranes side and his inclusion mirrors the good form he has exhibited in the previous encounters.
When South Sudan visit, Aucho’s big presence in midfield will be what Uganda would want as they look for a third straight Afcon qualification.
How To Watch
The game will be played behind closed doors, no fans, while few slots have been issued out to the media fraternity as the Country continues to fight the Covid19 pandemic.
The match, that will kickoff at 4pm and will be broadcasted live on BBS Terefayina.
You can as well follow the proceedings on our social media pages for live text updates, while a full match report will be uploaded on the website just at fulltime.
Mckinstry is expected to go for an attacking system, a 4-3-3 formation, but I will arrange this into a 4-2-3-1 formation.
There is no gift for guessing who will start in goal, that honor goes to team captain Denis Onyango.
Without Bevis Mugabi who got injured while at his club Motherwell, the place at right back is up for grabs. Azam FC defender Nicholas Wadada and Elvis Bwomono of Southend United are the candidates but Mckinstry is expected to go for the latter.
TP Mazembe’s Joseph Ochaya will be deployed at left back position, and will give an extra hand going forward.
Israel-based Timothy Awany who plays for FC Ashdod will start in the heart of defence and will most likely partner with Ronald Mukiibi of Sweden’s Ostersunds FK.
Khalid Aucho and Mike Azira will sit in middle of the park as double pivots.
William Kizito Luwagga, Emmanuel Okwi and Farouk Miya will bring the creativity upfront.
Former vipers striker Fahad Bayo, playing at a familiar ground, will be the target man to shoulder goal scoring burden, but faces stiff competition from Derrick Nsibambi.
Here’s what we expect the line-up to look like
Uganda Cranes Starting XI: GK -Denis Onyago (Captain), Elvis Bwomono,Ronald Mukiibi, Timothy Awany, Joseph Ochaya , Mike Azira, Khalid Aucho, Farouk Miya , Fahad Bayo, Emmanuel Okwi and Kizito Luwagga
