Onyango confident the Cranes will qualify for AFCON 2022

 

Uganda Cranes captain Dennis Onyango is confident the chance of qualifying for next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations is still within reach despite a goalless draw at home against Burkina Faso.

Uganda Cranes’ goal-less home stalemate will Burkina Faso at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende during round 5 of the Total AFCON 2021 qualifiers left the CECAFA giants on the brick of qualification, pending the last away game with Malawi on Monday.

Uganda is currently the second in the group with 8 points, just one point ahead of Malawi with one game left to play.

Onyango addressing the media after Uganda vs Burkina Faso match

 

Malawi need to win at all cost to sail through to the final to be hosted by Cameroon next year while Uganda need a draw to join Burkina Faso who already qualified. Burkina Faso, lead the group with nine points

As a way of  boosting their morale, the people of Malawi are  making pledges towards the Malawi National Football Team aka the Flames to inspire them as they meet Uganda’s Cranes in  a match that  will determine the winner of the remaining Group B qualification slot for the 2022 Afcon finals.

In order to boost morale in Flames camp ahead of the encounter, Kukoma Cooking Oil manufacturers—Capital Oil Refining Industries (Cori) Limited, have pledged K5 million to the team if they will beat Uganda and qualify for AFCON.

In a statement to Football Association of Malawi (FAM), signed by the companies managing director, Shiraz Karim Nathaniel, it said: “We write to you today with a pledge to FAM and the Malawi National Football Team.” As we are all aware, The Flames have a chance to qualify for AFCON and if they manage to secure a win on Monday we as CORI would like to pledge K5 million to FAM and the Flames if they qualify for AFCON.”

 

Uganda Cranes probable lineup: 

 

Dennis Onyango (Goalkeeper – Captain), Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Ochaya, Halid Lwaliwa, Murushid Juuko, Taddeo Lwanga, Abdu Lumala, Mike Azira, Patrick Henry Kaddu, Emmanuel Okwi, Faruku Miya