2021 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Uganda Cranes face tough task away to Burkina Faso

Four teams from the Cecafa region are set to kick start their campaigns in the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Wednesday. Uganda Cranes who reached the last 16 in the 2019 Afcon will start their campaign with a tricky Group B match away to Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou‎.

It will also be the first big match for newly appointed Ugandan coach Jonathan McKinstry since he took over last month. The former Rwanda coach has made it clear that starting with an away win would be the best thing, but added that Burkina Faso is dangerous at their home.

“We must try to make sure we get a good result in Burkina Faso. But they are not an easy side playing at home

Professional players Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda and skipper Denis Onyango are the senior players expected to lead the Uganda Cranes.

South Sudan who made it through the preliminary stage ejecting Seychelles will also play away to Malawi at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantrye. The Bright Star will hope that Joseph Kuch and Koang Thok who scored in the preliminary round find their scoring form in Blantyre.

Burundi who also played at the 2019 Afcon exiting in the group stage will play away to Central African Republic in a Group E match.

On Thursday Kenya’s Harambee Stars will also face a tough test away to Egypt in what promises to be a thriller. After Egypt’s failure to win the 2019 Afcon at home they will be under lots of pressure to try and prove a point to the home fans.

The good news is that Egypt will play without injured star player Muhamad Salah. England based Victor Wanyama who has not enjoyed enough playing time for Tottenham Hotspurs together with Jesse Were and in-form striker Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan) are expected to play pivotal roles for Kenya.

Rwanda’s Amavubi will also be in action on Thursday with an away a game against Mozambique in Group F. The Taifa Stars of Tanzania will host Equatorial Guinea on Friday and Ethiopia play away to Madagascar in a Group K match on Saturday at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo.

Fixture for Cecafa teams

November 13

Malawi v South Sudan

Central African Republic v Burundi

Burkina Faso v Uganda

Sudan v Sao Tome and Principe

November 14

Egypt v Kenya

Mozambique v Rwanda

November 15

Tanzania v Equatorial Guinea

November 16

Madagascar v Ethiopia