Uganda, Kenya placed in same FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers group

Regional arch-rivals Uganda Cranes and Kenya have been placed in Group E of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers. During the draw for the group phase conducted in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday night Uganda, the best ranked nation in the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) region was placed alongside Kenya, Rwanda and Mali.

“This is a group that presents great opportunity, but also intriguing challenges. We look forward to the journey,” said Uganda’s coach Jonathan McKinstry after the draw.

The teams representing 40 countries across the CAF region were divided into ten groups of four teams each for the penultimate stage of the continental journey to Qatar.

Former Captain of the French Men’s national football team Marcel Desailly and Coach of Côte d’Ivoire’s Women’s national football team, Clementine Toure assisted CAF Director of Competitions, Samson  Adamu conducted the draw for the group phase.

Djibouti who ejected Eswatini in the preliminary stage will have to battle their way in Group A alongside African champions Algeria, Burkina Faso and Niger. Ethiopia have been placed in Group G along with Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

CECAFA’s other representatives Tanzania will battle alongside DR Congo, Benin and Madagascar in Group J.

After a round-robin of matches that start in October this year, the winners of the ten groups will qualify to the Final Round of the continental qualification on the journey to Qatar.

The Final Round will see the ten teams drawn into five home and away ties, with the five winners securing the ticket to represent Africa at the tournament scheduled for 21 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar.

Groups

Group A: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Djibouti

Group B: Tunisia, Zambia, Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea

Group C: Nigeria, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Liberia

Group D: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Malawi

Group E: Mali, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda

Group F: Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Angola

Group G: Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia

Group H: Senegal, Congo, Namibia, Togo

Group I: Morocco, Guinea, Guinea-Biisau, Sudan

Group J: DR Congo, Benin, Madagascar, Tanzania