CHAN 2020 Qualifiers-Second Round (Return Leg)
Uganda vs Burundi (Agg: 3-0)
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Saturday, 19-10-2019 @4pm
LUGOGO – The Uganda Cranes will be hoping to reach a 5th consecutive CHAN tournament when they take on Burundi on Saturday.
Leading 3-0 from the first leg of the first leg of their second round qualifiers, the Cranes will be confident of reaching the finals.
If they do so, they will have reached all the last 5 editions of the competition after failing to seal a spot at the inaugural finals in Ivory Coast-2009.
Ever since the competition was expanded to 16 teams, Uganda have been perennial participants, reaching the 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2018 finals tournaments.
To reach the last edition in Morocco (2018), Uganda defeated South Sudan 5-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualifiers before hanging on to overcome Rwanda 3-2 in the second round.
So far, they have already powered past Somali (7-2) in the first round of qualification, beating them 3-1 and 4-1 in the first and second legs respectively.
In the build up to Saturday’s game at home to Burundi, Uganda were dealt a blow as Krizestom Ntambi withdraw from preparations.
The Wakiso Giants FC midfielder got injured in a motor accident and could jot take part in the last two training session and hence withdrew.
However, being at home and with a 3-0 goal lead from the first leg, Ntambi can not be a reason as to why Uganda fail to progress.
The team is equipped with loads of talent in all departments and will be heavy favourites to reach the group stages of the tournament proper.
However, head coach Abdallah Mubiru cautions that they need to be worry of the threat Burundi will pose in the day.
“We hold a decent advantage going into the game but the tie is not yet won and that is why we play the second leg, noted Mubiru ahead of the game.
“We expect them (Burundi) to throw every thing they have at us so we need to be careful and professional enough throughout the 90 minutes.
“Throughout training, we have worked on our mentality so as we do not get complacent at any point and hopefully we do not.
“With all that said, hopefully we reach our goal which is to seal a spot at the tournament proper.”
Mubiru is not expected to make big changes to the team that started against Burundi in the first leg.
Charles Lukwago is expected to retain his spot in goal and so are Paul Willa, Mustapha Kizza, John Revita and Halid Lwaliwa-in defence.
Nicholas Kasozi, Muzamir Mutyaba and Allan Okello are expected to feature in a three-man midfield.
With Ntambi out of contention, Vipers SC Allan Kayiwa is expected to slot in on the right side of the attack with Viane Sekajugo and Fahad Bayo filling the other two slots.
For Burundi, they are attempting to reach a second CHAN finals’ tournament having done so in South Africa 2014 where they were eliminated in the group stages after finishing third in Group D.
To reach the second round of qualification, the Swallows eliminated South Sudan 4-1 on aggregate after defeating them 2-0 and 2-1 in the first and second legs respectively.
Match Facts
This will be the 9th meeting between the two sides since December 2007.
In the previous 8 meetings, Uganda has won 6, Burundi 1 while the other ended in a draw.
Despite featuring in the same qualification zone, this will be the first time the two nations meet in the CHAN qualifiers.
Uganda has won both of the last two meetings with Burundi, scoring five goals and conceding just one.
Going into the game, Uganda has won five of their past 7 CHAN qualifiers (D1 L1).
At home, the Cranes have won all four of their last 4 CHAN qualifiers scoring an impressive 14 goals whilst conceding just two.
For Burundi, they have also been fairly impressive in the CHAN qualifiers as they have won 5 of their last 9 games (D1 L3).
However, away from home, they have won just two and lost as many of their last four fixtures.
