Uganda hosts South Sudan in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday, aiming to solidify their top position in Group K after earning four points from their first two games. South Sudan, yet to score, finds itself at the bottom of the group after two defeats. Uganda, with a recent unbeaten streak, is favored to win against a struggling South Sudan team that has never defeated them in six encounters.
Uganda is set to strengthen its lead in Group K of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they host South Sudan on Friday, following a promising start that has seen them secure four points from their initial two matches. In contrast, South Sudan finds itself at the bottom of the group, yet to earn a point after suffering defeats in both of their opening games, contributing to a concerning eight-match winless streak. Currently, Uganda sits comfortably at the top of Group K, buoyed by a commendable performance in their previous matches against South Africa and Congo. A resilient 2-2 draw against South Africa allowed Uganda to gain a crucial away point, securing their position against nearby rivals due to the away goals tiebreaker. This was followed by an authoritative 2-0 victory over Congo, which maintained their unbeaten run and set the stage for the possibility of consecutive wins—a feat they have not accomplished since September 2022. Recent years have shown Uganda’s national team, the Cranes, steadily improving, fostering hopes for qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Their record reflects stability, with only one loss in their past five matches—at the hands of Algeria in World Cup qualifying—and similarly, they have recorded just one defeat in their last five AFCON qualifiers against Algeria in 2023. Despite a strong overall performance, Uganda has experienced some inconsistency at home in AFCON qualifiers, with only one victory and two draws in their last five home fixtures. This presents a challenge as they attempt to maintain their top position in the group. Prior to this slight downturn, they had enjoyed an impressive home record, remaining unbeaten in five AFCON qualifiers that included four wins and a single draw. South Sudan commenced their campaign with a narrow defeat at Congo, followed by a loss on home soil against South Africa, resulting in a negative goal differential at -2. They are currently mired in an eight-match winless streak across all competitions, with their last victory dating back to a friendly against Kenya in September 2023. The team’s long-standing absence from the Africa Cup of Nations is poised to continue unless they make significant improvements and begin to accumulate points. Ranked 167th by FIFA, South Sudan suffers from a substantial gap in experience and quality compared to more established African teams, which has been evident in their tournament performances. Their history against Uganda exacerbates their struggles, as they have yet to taste victory against them in six encounters, registering five defeats and a draw. In terms of team news, Aziz Kayondo has emerged as a pivotal player for Uganda, having contributed both defensively and offensively in their recent matches, while Rogers Mato Kassim aims to sustain his impactful form. South Sudan’s offensive hopes rely on Valentino Yuel and Tito Okello, who have each scored crucial goals in their qualifiers. Furthermore, South Sudan’s goalkeeper Majak Mawith will need to showcase his best performance to have a chance at securing a favorable result against Uganda. Notably, Joseph Dhata’s injury renders him unavailable for South Sudan in this fixture.
This match between Uganda and South Sudan is part of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Uganda is striving to secure a top spot in their group to qualify for the tournament, reflecting their recent success and aspirations for a future AFCON place. South Sudan, on the other hand, is facing challenges as they struggle at the bottom of the group without any points. The contrasting fortunes of the teams underscore the competitive nature of the qualifiers and the aspirations of both nations in the context of African football.
In conclusion, Uganda enters this match as a clear favorite, buoyed by their current standing in Group K and recent form. With a strong performance anticipated, they aim to secure another victory against a South Sudan side grappling with ongoing difficulties and a historical inability to defeat the Cranes. The match’s outcome could have significant implications for both teams’ prospects in the ongoing qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
