AFCON 2021 Qualifiers (Group B)
Today, 4pm
Uganda vs Malawi, Namboole (4pm)
South Sudan vs Burkina Faso
Fee: Shs20k, 50k, 120k (15k on Airtel money)
Uganda Cranes will not have Abdul Lumala and Alex Bakka as they take on Malawi Flames this Sunday at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in the AFCON 2021 Qualifiers, group B fixtures.
Lumala, who played 90 minutes in Ouagadougou and Bakka who replaced Faruku Miya late in the added minutes of the game have no documents that allow them to travel back to their motherland.
According to Football256, the two players went AWOL in Sweden as they went with Kampala junior team (KJT) and applied for asylum. The duo is allowed to travel to any country apart from their motherland before the reason for their fleeing is sorted.
They thus have to wait for at least five years to access travel permits to their motherland. Lumala and Bakka, who changed named after accessing asylum in Sweden, can only feature for Cranes away matches as of now.
The Cranes returned to the country on Thursday morning aboard Uganda airline Bombardier following a toiled barren draw away at Burkina Faso in the AFCON 2021 group B qualifier at the Stade Du 4 Aout in Ouagadougou on Wednesday night.
It called for a collective effort from the players, technical department and FUFA administration. Left-back Johnson Benson Ochaya had an early goal-line clearance before captain Denis Onyango was called upon to make routine collections and tame goal-bound moments.
Abdul Lumala, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi and Patrick Henry Kaddu had moments troubling the solid opposition backline. Uganda Cranes had the best scoring moment when Okwi headed onto the crossbar a curling corner kick by Faruku Miya after the break.
Johnathan McKinstry had changes but all looked to seek a point away from home in his first qualifier game in charge –bring on Nico Wakiro Wadada for Bevis Mugabi atright-backk, Patrick Henry Kaddu paved way for Isaac Muleme before Alexis Bbaka got introduced on for Miya.
“We had the fight and desire in the match against Burkina Faso. It is one point and we need to maintain doing this on the road. We are now going back home and look forward that home game against Malawi at Namboole Stadium this Sunday. We call upon the fans to come and fill up the stadium,” McKinstry noted after the game. The Irishman will be in charge of his first game at (home) Namboole.
Uganda is second in group B with a point, same as Burkina Faso as Malawi leads the standings with three points following their 1-0 victory earlier over South Sudan.
The Malawi delegation jetted in on Friday. Burkina Faso visits South Sudan in the other group game.
Team Line Ups:
Uganda Cranes XI: Denis Onyango (GK, Captain), Nico Wakiro Wadada, Joseph Benson Ochaya, Bevis Mugabi, Murushid Juuko (57’ Timothy Denis Awany), Khalid Aucho (81’ Tadeo Lwanga), Mike Azira, Faruku Miya, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Fahad Bayo, William Luwagga Kizito (67’ Allan Okello)
Subs Not Used: Robert Odongkara (GK), Charles Lukwago (GK), Halid Lwaliwa, , William Kizito, Allan Kyambadde, Isaac Muleme, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Henry Patrick Kaddu
Malawi XI: Brighton Munthali (G.K), Stanley Sanudi, Peter Cholopi, Lucky Malata, Idana Chimwemwe (45’ Chimango Kayira), Richard Mbulu, Gerald Phiri Junior (70’ William Kilipota Thole), Hellings Gabadihno Mhango (83’ Hassan Kajoke), John Banda (Captain), Chirwa Gomezgani, Chester Yamikani
Subs Not Used: Trevor Kalema, Chikoti Chirwa, Miciam Mhone, Nickson Nyasulu, Peter Banda
