AFCON qualifier: Mauritania in surprise early jet in

By Swalley Kenyi

Saturday fixtures

CAF U-17 qualifier: Uganda v Rwanda (2pm)
AFCON qualifier: Uganda v Mauritania (5pm)

Charges
Open stands: sh20,000
VIP stands: sh50,000
Pavilion: sh120,000

KAMPALA - The Mauritania contingent, here for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against the Uganda Cranes, made a surprise landing into the country on Wednesday, at least 12 hours before the official arrival time communicated to their hosts, FUFA.

The team that had previously been scheduled to jet in at 12:55am (Thursday morning) landed at around midday on Wednesday and had their first training at the KCCA grounds at Lugogo. They are booked at Grand Global Hotel in Makerere.

Uganda entertain Mauritania at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Saturday. The North African country fell 3-0 to the Cranes in a friendly at the same venue in January.

Cranes team captain Andy Mwesigwa has appealed to fans not to abandon the team following the not-so- impressive performance in the friendly matches against Seychelles (1-0) and Malawi (0-0) saying that the side is fixing the shortfalls ahead of Saturday.

Playing the first leg at home, Cranes need a comfortable victory against Mauritania in order to brighten any chances of progressing to the group stage.

The winner of the two-legged tie will join Ghana, Togo and Guinea in Group E where games will be played on home-and away on round-robin basis. The eventual winner will qualify for the Nations Cup finals to be staged in Morocco in January 2015.

Uganda Cranes sponsors Airtel Uganda have a plan to ferry fans for the match on Saturday.

Airtel Uganda manager Brand Assets and Property Noella Byuma said that buses will pick fans from different parts of Kampala and transport them to Namboole. All the fans will need to board the bus, is their match ticket.

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Cranes players swim during a training session at Sheraton Hotel ahead of their AFCON qualifier tie with Mauritania this Saturday. PHOTO/Silvano Kibuuka

Rwanda arrive today

Rwanda’s U-17 is also expected to jet in at 7pm tonight for the double header of continental football on Saturday. The Rwandans face Uganda Cubs in second round of the U-17 Africa championship qualifier.

The Uganda U-17 team shifted camp from Njeru Technical Centre to Bweyogerere near Namboole.

The aggregate winner between Uganda and Rwanda (over the two legs) will play Zambia at the last qualification stage.

Where to buy tickets for the Saturday games

• Airtel Uganda: Game (Lugogo), Shoprite (Ben Kiwanuka Street), Bugolobi, Bweyogerere and Jinja Road

• City Oil: Bombo Road, Martin Road, Bakuli, Nakawa and Kamwokya

• Gapco: Ben Kiwanuka

• TOTAL Uganda: Nakivubo, Bwaise, Kajjansi, Kireka, Bweyogerere and City Centre

• Kobil: Kawempe, Kasubi and Kansanga

• Shell: Capital, Kibuye and Bugolobi

• Hardware World (Ntinda)

• City Shoppers Super Market (Mukono)

• NIC head offices