FIFA WCQ 2022: How Cranes qualification Party got spoilt by usual suspects Kenya’s Harambee Stars at Kitende

FIFA WCQ 2022: Cranes qualification Party spoilt by usual suspects Kenya’s Harambee Stars at Kitende

By Daniels N. Tatya

St. Mary’s Stadium-Kitende looked set for Uganda Cranes` all three points until that Harambee Stars forward Michael Olunga’s 60th minute killer strike that put neighbors Kenya in the lead last evening.

Uganda played an uncertain and wasteful game for all eighty-eight minutes. Aziz Fahad Bayo made some change in the situation for Cranes with his 88th goal that leveled matters minutes to the final whistle, in a game that the hosts needed to win all three points.

A draw today means Cranes chances of qualification to the next qualifying round are almost over. The last time Kenya was here for qualification business, they denied Uganda a chance to make the 2012 Africa Cup after a goalless draw in Namboole.

The Thursday Kitende stadium 1-all draw, too, plays ugly head into yet another of qualification moments for Cranes. Statistically Uganda and Kenya have two Afcon and one two World Cup qualifying matches ending in draws in the last decade. The difference with Thursday’s is that it involved a goal apiece.

Cranes next fixture will be against group leaders Mali on Sunday 14th November 2021. Africa’s 2022 World Cup Qualifying group stage will be wrapped up with 6 fixtures spread from Thursday 11^th to Tuesday 16^th November 2021, with eight further teams looking to join Senegal and Morocco in advancing to the final playoff phase.

The Teranga Lions and Atlas Lions are guaranteed to finish top of Groups H and I respectively, and the teams looking good to join them are Tunisia (three-points lead in Group B), Nigeria (two point-lead in Group C), Mali (two-point lead in Group E), and Egypt (four-point lead Group F).

Africa WCQ Fixtures

11-16 NOVEMBER:

Thursday 11 November

Uganda 1-1 Kenya

Rwanda v Mali

Sunday 14 November

Mali v Uganda

Monday 15 November

Kenya v Rwanda

Previous results

01/09/2021

Mali 1 – 0 Rwanda