Luck is the term that can best define local soccer governing body – Fufa president Eng. Moses Magogo. For, under his reign, qualifying for a continental tournament is no longer a calculation as different teams have made it.
And the Uganda Beach Soccer Team – The Sand Cranes was Thursday added onto Magogo’s profile, qualifying for the 2021 Afcon finals slated for May his year in Senegal.
Uganda was meant to play Ghana over a two-leg qualifier – kicking off with the fixture at the Fufa Technical Centre – Njeru on March 27, but the West Africans shied away.
The eight-nation finals will have the winners of the championship crowned continental champions as well as qualifying to represent at the edition of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup.
Fufa official website reported Thursday that continental soccer governing body –Caf had communicated Ghana’s shyness.
“Kindly, note that Ghana FA has officially withdrawn from the Beach Soccer Afcon. Accordingly, the above mentioned two qualifying matches have been cancelled and Uganda is automatically qualified to the Final Tournament of Beach Soccer Afcon,’ Fufa quotes Caf as communicating,
Fufa Communications Director Ahmed Hussein confirmed that the federation had received the Caf communication.
‘We have received communication from Caf in respect of Beach Soccer. We are delighted that our team will be featuring in the finals.
“Remember Uganda would have hosted this tournament in 2020 but due to some technicalities we forfeited our chance –and Caf found and a replacement (in Senegal),” said Ahmed.
The Uganda Sand Cranes was inaugurated in 2014 –five after the sport had been officially introduced in the country. The national team made its first trip to Zanzibar for an inaugural international match.
The sport has since developed to have four Fifa badge holders as well as an international instructor – Ali Mwebe.
