KAMPALA, UGANDA | The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set the kickoff time for Uganda’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against South Africa at 4 PM. This decision, communicated by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), aims to align with the timing of another critical Group K match between Congo Brazzaville and South Sudan.
This match marks the Uganda Cranes' first daytime game at Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) since FIFA and CAF lifted the stadium's ban earlier this year. The stadium had previously been blacklisted but regained approval after meeting CAF’s requirements.
FUFA Executive Committee member Rogers Byamukama explained that the adjustment was necessary to avoid any potential foul play, ensuring all teams compete without knowledge of the other match's outcome. This simultaneous scheduling encourages teams to focus on winning rather than altering their strategies based on the concurrent game.
Currently, Uganda leads Group K with 10 points, closely followed by South Africa with 8 points. A draw for Uganda would secure their AFCON qualification, while South Sudan, having lost all four of their group matches, is out of contention. The outcome of the Uganda-South Africa match is crucial, as it will significantly impact the standings in the group.
