Friday October 11, 2024
Mandela National stadium, Namboole 7pm
Uganda will be looking to keep their place at the top of Group K when they face South Sudan at Mandela National stadium, Namboole under floodlights on Friday.
The Cranes come into the game unbeaten with four points, after a win over Congo and draw with South Africa in September.
Rogers Mato and Denis Omedi wonder strikes earned Uganda a deserved point away to Bafana Bafana before goals from Aziz Kayondo and Jude Ssemugabi decided the 2-0 win over the Red Devils at Namboole.
For the visitors, the target is to get their first points of the campaign after defeats to both Congo and Bafana Bafana.
The Bright Stars were edged 1-0 away in Brazzaville before losing in the last minute 3-2 to visiting South Africa in Juba in September.
However, they will hope to build on their performance over the 1996 African champions and stun favourites Uganda.
With familiar faces in the South Sudan camp, it will be more like a Uganda Premier League which adds impetus to the game.
Team News
Paul Put named a 27-man squad for the October fixtures including Taddeo Lwanga, Gavin Kizito and Derrick Nsibambi who have been absent for quite some time.
However, right back Elvis Bwomono, left back Joseph Ochaya and striker Muhammad Shaban were left out.
Calvin Kabuye and KCCA silky attacker Shafik ‘Nana’ Kwikiriza are some of the new faces on the team and will be looking to make their debuts.
Meanwhile, South Sudan have called up 26 players for the October double header with coach Nichola Dupuis sticking with majority of majority of the players that featured in the September international break.
NEC right back Joseph Dhata is the biggest miss through injury but SC Villa striker Francis Onekalit could earn his debut.
Ugandan based players Geriga Atendele, Gaddafi Wahab, Rashid Okocha as well ex-Vipers stars Tito Okello and Rashid Toha are expected to have game time.
But there are reports that Dupuis despite naming the team has been missing with reports he is in France for a family issue and that will join the team in Kampala on Friday.
Key Stats
There have been six head-to-head meetings between the two nations with Uganda on top with 4 wins [L1, D1]
Only two of those have come in the Afcon qualifiers with either winning once.
South Sudan have only won one of their last 10 international matches – an international friendly against Kenya in September last year [L5, D4]
Probable line up:
Watenga (GK), Ssemakula, Capradossi, Mugabi, Kayondo, Aucho ©, Lwanga, Mutyaba, Nsibambi, Mato, Omedi
The post Preview: Uganda vs South Sudan – team news, key stats, probable line up | Afcon 2025 qualifiers appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
