Uganda’s senior men’s football team feels it’s in a better place on the road to the 2022 Fifa World Cup after defeating Rwanda home and day in the ongoing qualifiers.
The Cranes moved to eight points after identical 1-0 wins over the Amavubi Stars both away in Nyamirambo on Thursday and again at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Sunday.
Striker Fahad Bayo’s strikes, both in the first half, drew the Cranes’ further away from their East African neighbours with two matches left to wrap up Group E.
Whereas coach Micho Sredojevic delighted in Cranes’ only second away win in a World Cup qualifier in history and a first home win in a competitive outing since last November, his team still has its work cut out.
This is because West African side Mali defeated Kenya 5-0 at home and 1-0 away thanks to Ibrahima Kone’s four goals and they keep top spot with 10 points from a possible 12.
Yet, the Cranes must beat Kenya at Kitende and pray the result betters that of Mali who visit Rwanda on Match Day 5 next month.
Thereafter, the Cranes, who are yet to concede just like Mali, will need to keep the glue together when they play away to the Bamako-assembled side.
The group winner will join nine others for a two-legged play-off in March to determine Africa’s five representatives in Qatar.
Like Uganda, Mali, runners-up at the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations, have never been to the World Cup.
QATAR 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
GROUP E FIXTURES AND RESULTS
MATCH DAY 4 RESULTS
Kenya 0-1 Mali
Uganda 1-0 Rwanda
MATCH DAY 1 RESULTS
Mali 1-0 Rwanda
Kenya 0-0 Uganda
MATCH DAY 2 RESULTS
Rwanda 1-1 Kenya
Uganda 0-0 Mali
MATCH DAY 3 RESULTS
Mali 5-0 Kenya
Rwanda 0-1 Uganda
GROUP E STANDINGS
TEAM P W D L F A PTS
Mali 4 3 1 0 7 0 10
Uganda 4 2 2 0 2 0 8
Kenya 4 0 2 2 1 7 2
Rwanda 4 0 1 3 1 4 1
UPCOMING FIXTURES
MATCH DAY 5, NOVEMBER 11
Uganda vs. Kenya
Mali vs. Rwanda
MATCH DAY 6, NOVEMBER 14
Mali vs. Uganda
Kenya vs. Rwanda
Play-offs, March 2022
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