Uganda Cranes cleared to host World Cup Qualifiers at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared Uganda Cranes to host their forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers gamest at Vipers SC St. Mary’s Stadium KItende.

The stadium, located in Wakiso District was included on the list of approved stadiums on Monday, giving Ugandans a sigh of relief and ending the fears that the National team would have to host their home games away from home.

Earlier, Sports Minister Hamson Obua had indicated that the Uganda Cranes would host their games in a neighboring country had CAF not cleared the home of Vipers Sports Club, St. Mary’s stadium.

“Uganda only has St Mary’s Kitende and if the team of inspectors doesn’t approve it, we will have no choice but to host all our World Cup qualifiers in one of the countries outside Uganda,”Obua said recently.

The latest inspection by FIFA had indicated that St. Mary’s Stadium had no floodlights and access roads that had to be worked upon before being cleared but this was overlooked, allowing Uganda Cranes to host their home games at home.

The Cranes are pooled in Group E alongside Mali and East African neighbours, Kenya and Rwanda.

The quest for a first ever appearance at the global showpiece will begin with a trip to Nairobi to face Kenya between 5^th-8^th June 2021.

Uganda will then return to action with a home fixture against Mali on matchday two. The dates will be between 11^th -14^th June.

Matchday three and four will be a double header against Rwanda with the first leg coming between 1^st -4^th September in Kigali before facing off in Kampala in a space of two-three days.

The penultimate game will see Uganda host Kenya in the first week of October and later end the group phase with a trip to Bamako, Mali between 10^th-12^th October.