Kenya’s long standing rivalry with Uganda returns on Thursday at the Nyayo National Stadium when both sides meet in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Both East African sides were paired in Group E of the Qatar qualification and the 13h00 GMT encounter is set to rekindle a long-time football rivalry between the two neighboring countries.
Kenya will be hoping to start the competition on a winning note in a match set to be played behind closed doors as part of measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Harambee Stars are desperate to not only build an impressive record, but also on becoming the first ever team from CECAFA region to ever grace the global football showpiece.-
However, they came into the match without three of their regulars led by captain Victor Wanyama, Johana Omollo and Joash Onyango who were overlooked for the World Cup qualifiers.
Harambee Stars coach Jacob Mulee has defended his selection and remains upbeat that the team that he has assembled is ready for the big clash.
“My main goal is to get to the Qatar but we have to start with the group games. It is a huge responsibility but I believe we can make it,” Mulee said.
“We respect Uganda and know that head to head they have an advantage but we need to collect all three points to get off on a high note. We need to start righting our own history from today.”
Uganda, who are top ranked team in East Africa, have never qualified for the World Cup and they also recently failed to secure a return to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, finishing third in their qualifying group behind Malawi and Burkina Faso.
However, the recently re-hired their coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic who is one of the most experienced foreign coach currently working in Africa.
Micho knows the importance of winning the opening match of qualifiers and is urging his team to go for maximum points.
“Every child growing up in Uganda is growing with the belief that one day they will go to play the World Cup after watching. There is no better chance than in these qualifiers where we are in the same group with Kenya, Mali, and Rwanda,” Micho noted.
“Kenya have an advantage in that they are just from the league and have been competing while we were in recess, but that does not matter. The match will be won because of very small details.”
The two rivals have faced each other 76 times, with Harambee Stars winning just 22 and Uganda trouncing them on 32 occasions.
Out of the last six matches between the two neighbors, five have ended in a draw, while Uganda has won one.
