27th July: CHAN Return Leg
Uganda Vs Tanzania, Namboole Stadium (4:00 p.m)
(Uganda leads 0-1 on aggregate)
Tanzanian National Football team, The Taifa Stars have safely landed at Entebbe International Airport from Mwanza oozing with a lot of confidence ahead of the return leg of the Championships of African Nations fixture at Namboole National Stadium this Saturday.
A 30 man delegation aboard a Precision Air flight Boeing 762 set foot on the Entebbe International Airport landing tarmac at 4:55 p.m (local Uganda time). Msafri Mgoyi is head of delegation with 20 players and 7 other officials.
The entire contingent looked relaxed and ready for the mission at hand- to overturn the 0-1 deficit suffered at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium courtesy of a Dennis Iguma strike on 48 minutes.
“Nothing will distract us, we have come in early to acclimatize to Uganda’s weather and play football which is played over 90 minutes.”,head coach Kim Poulsen said.
The Tanzanian team, booked at Mount Zion Hotel, Kampala will conduct their Thursday training at Nakivubo before undergoing the Friday last training at the main match venue (Namboole) as mandated by FIFA.They were welcomed by FUFA protocol Officer Boniface Oryem and former Cranes International Joseph Mutyaba.
The centre referee will be Abduol Kanoso Ohabee, assisted by Andirvoavonjy Pierre Jean Eric (first assistant), Jinoro Velomanana Andriamiharisoa (second assistant) while Bruno will be the fourth official. (All the four match officials are from Madagascar). Ethiopian Ismail Kamal has been appointed as the match commissioner.
Tanzania will play the Cranes minus two of their inspirational players in Mwinyi Kazimoto (mid fielder) and defender Salum Kapombe. The duo, which played in the first leg but is reportedly out for professional trials in Qatar and Holland respectively.
Tanzania is currently ranked 121 (on 271 points) on the latest FIFA/Coca Cola rankings while Uganda lies 80th (466 points) in the entire world.
The aggregate winners over the two legs will qualify to play in the CHAN finals in South Africa.
