Thursday November 11, 2021 will see two fiercest rivals in East Africa clash as Uganda Cranes host Harambee Stars at the St Mary’s Kitende with the two teams having different ambitions again as it was in 2012 when they clashed in a high profile match.
For Uganda, this is a must win situation for them as they seek to progress into the next phase of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers thanks to their back to back victories over Rwanda in October. For Kenya, it is all about salvaging pride after a disappointing campaign that has seen them pick only a point in the qualifiers.
As it is clearly, Kenya don’t have a chance of qualifying and are playing for pride. This is the same situation they found themselves into during the 2012 AFCON qualifiers when the two teams clashed at the Namboole stadium on October 8, 2011.
Kenya had Arnold Origi, MacDonald Mariga, Victor Wanyama, Dennis Oliech, Collins Okoth 'Gattuso’, James Situma among others in the lineup and they left the Ugandans heartbroken in the 0-0 draw.
For those who vividly remember the day, Kenyans flocked Kampala for the Migingo derby but it was Arnold Origi who stole the show. The Kenyan shot-stopper single handedly denied Uganda in a dozen occasions in what could have been a proper rout.
The Ugandans needed a win to seal a place at AFCON 2012 that was set to be held in Gabon.It ended 0-0 and the Ugandans were crestfallen.
Former Ugandan defensive ace Nestroy Kizito later recalled in an interview that on the bus home , an old woman in tears told him,
‘Naye Nestroy kiki kyemutokoze?’ ( ‘Nestroy, what have you done to us?’)
Nestroy was so disconsolate that he retired from international duty thereafter
After the game Kenyans celebrated and partied in Kampala all night and Origi later claimed in an interview that his performance was inspired by the taunts he received from Ugandan fans including a lady he met at Entebbe airport who told him
‘Oh! You Kenyans have come here to lose as usual?
On Thursday, Milutin Micho and his Cranes must avoid defeat if they have to stay in contention to qualifying from Group E. The two teams played to a bore draw on September 2 at Nyayo stadium but this time round there promises to be fireworks at the Namboole astro turf.
Uganda Cranes are second in Group E with 8 points and must beat Kenya and Mali to reach the final play-off round of the road to Qatar 2022.
The Serbian is aware of the threat posed by a much changed Kenyan side and says that he has prepared his team in the best possible way.
“We need to take every match as it is and we are now focusing on the game against Kenya,” Micho said.
“They will play for pride and are ready to spoil the party like they have done before against the Cranes. We are preparing ourselves in the best way possible. We only ask for support from every stakeholder.
Harambee Stars captain Micheal Olunga knows that there is all to fight for in this encounter.
“Although we don’t stand a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, we are going to represent Kenya. So, we have our nation to make proud,” Olunga said on Wednesday.
“We are also trying to come back from the setback we suffered against Mali. We will try to be much more positive in these two encounters and finish on a high.”
Uganda will be without Emmanuel Okwi has been overlooked again despite getting a new club in Rwanda.
Allan Okello, Bevis Mugabi, Mathias Kigonya have been recalled to the team after being overlooked in the past qualifiers but Murushid Juuko, Taddeo Lwanga and Joseph Ochaya miss out.
For Kenya, defenders Joash Onyango, John Okumu as well as forwards Boniface Muchiri and Masud Juma are not part of the team.
Key Stats:
This will be the 79th meeting between Uganda and Kenya – Cranes won 32, Kenya 22 and there have been 24 stalemates.
In Afcon/World Cup qualifiers, the two nations have met 12 times – Uganda won 6, lost 1 and the rest draws.