Uganda Premier League side KCCA FC will face Rwandan outfit AS Kigali in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup on Wednesday, 23rd December 2020 in Rwanda.
Ahead of the second preliminary round of the tournament, only 14 KCCA players will feature on the matchday team sheet after 12 tested positive for Covid-19, including skipper Charles Lukwago, Hassan Matovu, Ali Mwirusi, Samson Kigozi, Brian Aheebwa, Hassan Musana, Kezironi Kizito, Denis Iguma and Stefano Mazengo.
Albeit losing about half of the traveling squad to the positive test, KCCA FC assistant coach Morley Byekwaso says the available charges will put up a good display.
“We are prepared as usual though we got some disturbances of Covid-19 but we are ready with the list (of players) we are having and we are ready to take on AS Kigali,” Byekwaso said ahead of kick-off.
“We need to get the right points which will be good for us in the return leg.”
“We are so prepared as usual; we want to see that we represent our club and our country very well. All the boys are determined, they are focused and the boys really want to make a difference in Wednesday’s game.”
KCCA got a bye in the first preliminary round, and they will be away against their neighbours, who eliminated Orapa United of Botswana.
KCCA were confirmed as the nation’s Confederation Cup representatives when the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) cancelled the Uganda Cup, a tournament that produces the team to pick the continental slot.
Last season, KCCA were in the CAF Champions League and were eliminated by Petro Atletico of Angola after a 1-1 draw in Kampala in September 2019 as they had registered a goalless draw in Luanda.
After the elimination of Vipers FC from the Champions League by Al-Hilal Omdurman a few weeks ago, it means the Kasasiro Boys are the only Ugandan team remaining in the continental competitions.