ZONAL AFCON U-17 QUALIFIERS: Arch-rivals Uganda, Kenya clash

Uganda Cubs will this afternoon face arch-rivals Kenya in a Group A match at the on-going Zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-17 qualifiers at the Umuganda Stadium in Rwanda.

Kenya kick started their campaign few days ago with a 2-2 draw against Ethiopia. However, Kenya will face a tough test against the regional U-17 defending champions.

“We are the defending champions and we are determined to retain this trophy. But we need to start well because we know what such tournaments mean,” said Uganda Cubs coach Hamzah Lutalo after training on Tuesday.

Lutalo said they know what to expect from the Kenyan side and had the chance of watching them in the first game against Ethiopia.

The Kenyan coach Oliver Page made it clear that although his players missed several scoring chances, they will try to be sharper against Uganda today. “We need to take our chances because we are facing a tough team,” added Page.

A clear victory for any of the team will send it straight to the semi-final stage even before Uganda battles Ethiopia in the last group game on Friday. In their last meeting during the Zonal Afcon U-17 qualifier in Tanzania in 2018, Uganda beat Kenya 3-1.

The second game of the day will see Rwanda facing Djibouti in a game the hosts must win to have any chance of making it to the knock out stage. Rwanda lost to Tanzania 3-1 in their opening Group B match played on Monday. The last group games will be played on Friday, before the semi finals take centre stage on Sunday and the play-off and final to be played on December 22nd.

The best two teams will qualify to represent the region at the Afcon U-17 competition next March in Morocco.

Group A standing

                      P    W    D    L    F   A   D   Pts

Ethiopia     1     0      1     0    2    2   0     1

Kenya          1     0      1     0    2    2   0     1

Uganda       0     0     0     0    0   0   0     0

Group B standing

                      P    W    D    L    F   A   D   Pts

Tanzania    1     1      0     0    3    1   2     3

Djibouti      0    0     0    0    0    0    0    0

Rwanda      1     0     0    1     1    3    -2    0