Friday November 14, 2024

• Mandela National stadium, Namboole 4pm

Uganda Cranes take on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Mandela National stadium, Namboole with either side aiming for victory to keep their decent run in the campaign.

With both teams already qualified following Congo’s failure to beat South Sudan in Juba, the aim will be to determine who tops Group K.

Uganda currently sits top with 10 points, two ahead of 1996 champions Bafana Bafana with the two teams still unbeaten so far.

The two sides settled for a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Orlando stadium

Team News

Paul Put’s 27-man squad is devoid of centre forwards Muhammad Shaban and Derrick Nsibambi through injury and youngster John Paul Ddembe who top scored in the Afcon U-20 Zonal Cecafa qualifiers with six goals.

Defender Elio Capradossi was also left out due to match fitness issues as he is unattached to any club at the moment with his place taken by Geoffrey Wasswa who returns to the national team after some time.

There was also first-time summons for SC Villa winger Hakim Kiwanuka and KCCA goalkeeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa.

Bafana Bafana, on the other hand are without a number of missing players including Mihlali Mayambela, Burnley forward Lyle Foster and Themba Zwane while Al Ahly striker Percy Tau continues to be overlooked by Hugo Broos.

Broos has instead included Mothobi Mvala, Evidence Makgopa, Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha also back after missing the trip to Congo.

Key Stats

• This will be the sixth meeting between the two sides with South Africans unbeaten against The Cranes [W3, D2]
• Uganda has only lost two matches of nine matches in 2024 – versus Comoros in an international friendly in March and a 2-1 home loss to Algeria in the World Cup qualifiers.
• Bafana are also unbeaten in eleven matches in this year but have only won four matches [D7]
• Uganda has missed the last two editions of Afcon since playing at 2019 edition in Egypt.

Probable Line-ups:

Uganda XI: Watenga (GK), Ssemakula, Mugabi, Lwaliwa, Kayondo, Aucho ©, Lwanga, Okello, Omedi, Ssemugabi, Mato

South Africa XI: Williams (GK ©), Mudau, Mvala, Mobbie, Modiba, Mokoena, Aubaas, Mbatha, Apollis, Rayners, Makgopa

Prediction

Uganda 1-1 South Africa

The post Preview: Qualified Uganda, South Africa aim to top Group K | Afcon 2025 appeared first on Kawowo Sports.