David GOMBE
Uganda Cranes will lock horns with Tanzania Group F of the 2023 AFCON Qualification campaign at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Egypt on Friday at 5PM.
Both sides are desperate for maximum points in Ismailia.
Uganda will be hosting in Ismailia following a CAF ban on the standards of the Stadiums in the country.
Uganda and Tanzania both have one point apiece after two matches, with Algeria leading the group on six points.
The two sides will be facing off for a 62nd meeting. Uganda has managed 32 wins, Tanzania 13 and drawn 16.
At the 2019 Afcon qualifiers the two nations played out to goalless in Kampala before Tanzania thrashed an already qualified Uganda 3-0 in the return fixture in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania are under new coach Adel Amrouche and will be aiming for three points against Milutin Sredojevic Micho’s side.
“We have done so much behind the scenes for close to nine months to make sure we get good results against Tanzania,” he started before adding,
“I believe that we are mentally ready, physically fit, technically effective and tactically aware. Playing in a derby means you must be at your best because such games are determined by small margins.” Said Micho who is in his second stint as Cranes head coach
Both Uganda and Tanzania are looking to return to Afcon finals for the first time since the 2019 edition in Egypt.
After the encounter on Friday, Tanzania and Uganda will meet again four days later at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Uganda Cranes Probable XI against Tanzania
Jamal Salim Magoola
Kenneth Semakula
Aziz Kayondo
Livingstone Mulondo
Halid Lwaliwa
Siraje Sentamu
Khalid Aucho
Farouk Miya
Emmanuel Okwi
Fahad Bayo
Joseph Ochaya