LOCAL FOOTBALL

CAF approves St. Mary’s Stadium to host forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers

An aerial view of St. Mary's Stadium, Kitende

St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende has been approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The confirmation put an end to the uncertainty that has been hovering around Uganda’s home ground for the upcoming games.

Uganda was likely to host the games in either Tanzania or Kenya since Namboole was deemed unfit to host World Cup games.

Uganda was pitted in Group E alongside Mali and East African neighbors Rwanda and Kenya.

Uganda will open up the qualification campaign with an away duel against Kenya’s Harambee Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium between 5th – 8th June.

The Cranes will then host their first home game against Mali scheduled between 11th and 14th June.

Uganda will then face Rwanda in a doubleheader in the first week of September with the first leg to be played in Kigali and the second leg three days later.

The qualification campaign will climax in October with two games against Kenya in Kitende and Mali away.

Rwanda will host games at the Stade Regional de Kigali (Nyamirambo) while Mali will have to host their games away from home after failing to present a stadium with standards that fit to host games of World Cup qualifiers.