Kobs out to finish South Sudan job

Hard running striker. Uganda’s Joel Madondo (L) takes on South Sudan defender Micheal Taku Peter. Photo by Eddie Chicco

What you need to know:

  • Mbarara City striker Makueth Wol and Nelson Mandela will meanwhile lead South Sudan’s hunt for goals.
    The winner of the tie played Tunisia in the penultimate round.

KAMPALA. The national Under-23 team will qualify for the second round of the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers if they avoid defeat this evening against South Sudan.
The Kobs hold a slender lead against their counterparts going into today’s game having edged the first leg 1-0 in Kampala.
The team coached by Wasswa Bossa and Charles Ayieko put in a lacklustre lift struggled to break down the gangly South Sudanese defenders before a late Mustafa Kizza penalty settled the tie.

They can, however, take comfort in the fact that previous Ugandan sides have avoided defeat at the Juba Stadium.
The Chan Cranes team picked a goalless draw before a 5-1 win at Lugogo while the Uganda Under-20 side Hippos won 3-0 after another 5-1 result at Lugogo in April this year.

Up to Seven players, from that Under-20 game in Juba are expected to start again as they were all named in the starting lineup last week.
Saidi Keni, Mujuzi Musitafa, Geofrey Wasswa, Bashir Asiku, Julius Poloto, Allan Okello and Steven Mukwala are all part of the 18-man squad that arrived in South Sudan yesterday.
Vipers’ striker Mukwala has particularly proved a thorn for South Sudanese having scored thrice in the home and away games.

His pace forced the South Sudan goalkeeper John Mayik into a foul for the penalty last week.
Bossa could therefore name the same starting team that appears more suitable for an away game than last week’s encounter.
That would mean captain Musitafa Mujuzi starting at right back as he offers a more physical presence against the hosts who will be chasing the game.

There are however two new additions to the squad with Police attacking midfielder Ashraf Mugume and Alex Komakech coming in place of Ronald Kigongo and David Owori.
Mbarara City striker Makueth Wol and Nelson Mandela will meanwhile lead South Sudan’s hunt for goals.
The winner of the tie played Tunisia in the penultimate round.