Cranes seek first leg advantage over Burundi
Allan Okello’s creativity will be crucial to Uganda’s chances of wining the Chan qualifiers. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
KAMPALA- After four straight appearances, qualification to the finals of the Chan tournament seems like a given for the national football team Cranes.
They will attempt to keep that sequence intact when they face off with Burundi in a two legged tie of the 2020 final qualification round starting today in Bujumbura.
The Cranes arrived on Thursday as slight favourites even against a Burundi side that claimed a 2-0 home win over South Sudan that set the tone for 4-1 aggregate victory.
The Cranes bettered that though with the 4-1 home win over Somalia completing a 7-2 aggregate win.
Patrick Kaddu the leading scorer in the qualifiers thus far, scored four of those goals.
He has, however, since moved on to play club football in Morocco to make him ineligible for the competition exclusively featuring players who are active in their respective national championships.
But Mubiru, who was also in charge against Somalia, remained confident of getting a positive result.
“The best you can get from the players is the situation whereby they are ready to give whatever they can for the success of the team,” Mubiru said after team’s final training session on Wednesday evening.
Vipers forward Fahad Bayo is expected to step into Kaddu’s role having started the season in fine form scoring thrice in as many league games to add to the Pilsner Super 8 finals brace against KCCA.
Playmakers Shafik Kagimu and Allan Okello are then expected to start behind him with Nicholas Kasozi and Halid Lwalirwa also expected to start having not played a part against Somalia.
Another KCCA forward Mike Mutyaba could also play a starring role on his return to the Cranes fold six years after his last appearance
