David GOMBE
Uganda will be seeking to maximize points in their final group F game of the 2023 AFCON Qualifiers against Niger at Stade Marrakech on Thursday night.
It is a must win game for the Cranes if they are to prevail to the continental showpiece due in Ivory Coast next year.
The Cranes will however pray already qualified Algeria overcomes Tanzania in the other group game to progress.
Uganda is currently third in the group with four points while Tanzania are second placed with seven points.
Niger have only managed two points in the group and can no longer make it to Ivory Coast.
The calculations
Uganda must overcome Niger and pray Tanzania suffers defeat in Algeria.
A win for Milutin Sredojevic’s charges will send them level to 7 points level with Tanzania.
With both teams level on points, head to head will first be considered, Uganda lost 1-0 to Tanzania before winning in Dar Es Salaam with the same scoreline.
Currently, Uganda have a -3 goal difference, and a 1-0 victory over Niger will send them to -2.
Tanzania’s goal difference is -1, and a 1-0 defeat, will take their goal difference to -2.
With both teams level in those two aspects, the team that will advance will be determined on goals scored.
Uganda and Tanzania have scored 3 goals and a 1-0 win for Micho’s side will see them move to 4 goals scored with a 1-0 defeat for Tanzania will mean the Cranes are through to the AFCON.
Against Niger, Uganda will be without captain Emmanuel Okwi. They will look up Fahad Bayo, Richard Basangwa and Milton Karisa.
Uganda and Niger played out to a 1-1 draw when they faced off at Kitende in June, 2022. Karisa scored for the Cranes with Mahamadou Amadou Sabo restoring parity for Niger.
Meanwhile, Algeria will be seeking to become the first team to win all group games of an AFCON qualification campaign after Senegal who did it in the 2017 qualification campaign.
They are the only team left with a 100% record after winning all their five games.
