Ulimwengu hoping to guide Burundi to AFCON

Gor Mahia and Burundian forward Jules Ulimwengu has pledged to put hosts Morocco to the sword should he be considered for playing time in their final 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Burundi who sit third in pool E of the qualifiers will be seeking to floor the North Africans and hope that bottom-placed Central Africa Republic and Mauritania who sit second in the group will battle for a draw of any kind in the final qualifier set for Tuesday.

Ulimwengu who was an unused substitute in their 2-2 draw against Central African Republic in their penultimate qualifier says he is crossing his fingers for coach Jimmy Ndayizeye to accord him the opportunity to showcase his goal scoring prowess in the must win clash.

" Given the chance, I will do my best and help the team qualify to the Afcon. I have previously played in North Africa and I know what to do to get positive results here. The players know for us to qualify we have to win and thus, everyone is focused on the match," he said in a telephone interview. 

Ulimwengu who joined Gor before the season began poured plaudits to the senior strikers at the camp for holding up his hand and encouraging him to be patient in his search for a chance to play.

The former Rayon Sports man picked their skipper and Yanga forward Saidi Ntibazonkiza for his leadership skills and ability to marshal the team to fork out wins against the odds.

"There are senior players in the camp whom we look up to to get a win here. The captain has been helping me and the rest of the team on how to develop the right attitude for the match," he added

With former Stoke City forward Saido Berahino among the unavailable players, coach Ndayizeye will also rely on Amisi Mohamed and Caleb Bimenyimana to complement Ntibazonikza with Ulimwengu and AFC Leopards danger man Bienvenue Shaka also providing options.

Besides missing Berahino, Burundi will have to do without the services of former Sofapaka striker Fiston Razak amd the Saudi Arabia-based Cedric Amissi.