2022 WCQ: Migingo Derby bragging rights at stake as Kenya hosts Uganda

8 October 2011. That is a date that remains etched in many, if not all, of Uganda Cranes football fans. On that day, a special kind of rivalry was bred between Uganda Cranes and Harambee Stars.

Uganda needed to either win the clash against Kenya or equal Angola’s result on that day to book a slot in the 2012 Afcon, they did none of that as Kenya held them to a draw and Angola went ahead to win.

When Harambee Stars host Uganda Cranes later today at Nyayo National Stadium at 4 PM, they will be seeking to produce a better performance than the one at Namboole Stadium in 2011 while Cranes will be out on a revenge mission, just like they have done in the seven other meetings since then, but now with a bigger reward on the cards: a slot at The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Kenya’s captain Michael Olunga is upbeat that the team that has been assembled by Coach Ghost Mulee has what it takes to get the three points and kickstart their qualifying campaign on a high.

“It will be a difficult game. We know them well and our encounters have been difficult. We are at home and we should have a good display. All the players who are at the camp are good and have the ability to have a brilliant display. We hope that we will push ourselves and get the three points that will propel us in our next match against Rwanda,” Olunga said.

Referees for Kenya vs Uganda named

His Ugandan counterpart, Emmanuel Okwi notes that they are equally in high spirits ahead of the match.

“We are highly motivated because as a player if you are not motivated by a World Cup qualifier then you will never be motivated in your life. We are ready to represent our country,” Okwi noted.

Both teams have been boosted by the timely arrival of the foreign-based legion, with the likes of Eric Ouma, Michael Olunga, Richard Odada among others linking up with their teammates in the Kenyan camp while Mustafa Kizza, Isaac Mueme, and Derrick Nsimambi have recently joined their compatriots in the Uganda camp.

Returning to lead the team for the fifth time, Kenya's head coach Ghost Mulee knows the importance of winning the first goal and is urging his team to go for the kill in this one.

“Our aim is to start on a high and get the three points at home and that will be a big boost for us ahead of the away game in Rwanda. It is a huge responsibility ahead of us but we have an opportunity to write our history and we will do all within our reach to ensure that we get the results,” Mulee said.

Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevich notes that though Kenya have an advantage going into this game having in mind that they are match fit as they just from ending their league, Uganda will give their all and the match will be won from very minute grounds.

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“Every child growing up in Uganda is growing with the belief that one day they will go to play the World Cup after watching. There is no better chance than in these qualifiers where we are in the same group with Kenya, Mali, and Rwanda. Kenya have an advantage in that they are just from the league and have been competing while we were in recess, but that does not matter. The match will be won because of very small details,” Micho said.

In the absence of a number of key players in the Kenyan squad including Victor Wanyama and Joash Onyango, Mulee is expected to tinker his squad the best way he knows how with stakes high that Serbia-based midfielder Richard Odada could make his way into the squad.

With Mali having won their opening game against Rwanda by a solitary goal yesterday, both teams will be going for all the points and as many goals as they can in an attempt to topple Mali off the summit ahead of the second round of matches. Who will it be? The match kicks off at 4 PM EAT.

Odada ready for Harambee Stars debut