Kenya, Uganda set for East African derby

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Mar 22, 2017. 15:00

East African rivals Kenya and Uganda will meet for an international friendly at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Thursday, kick-off at 2pm CAT.

Both teams will be using the match as preparation for group phase qualifiers in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which get underway with matchday one fixtures in June.

The Harambee Stars have been drawn in Group F and will begin their campaign with a clash away to Sierra Leone, while the Cranes start their Group L campaign with a trip to Cape Verde Islands.

Kenya and Uganda have been regular combatants down the years, meeting no less than 52 times according to FIFA’s statistical database.

The Cranes have claimed 19 wins compared to 11 for the Harambee Stars, while 22 matches have been drawn.

The teams’ most recent meeting was a goalless draw in a friendly match at the end of August last year.

Kenya will also face DR Congo in a friendly match on Sunday afternoon. They will be without the trio of Erick 'Marcelo' Ouma, Ayub Timbe and Erick Johanna for the clash.

As for Uganda, coach Milutin Sredojevic has picked a predominantly locally-based team for the match, leaving out stars such as Denis Onyango and Farouk Miya.