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Uganda finds itself in Group G, set to battle it out with nations like Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana, and the Horn of Africa nation, Somalia.
The Uganda Cranes will have to revisit and conquer past battles as they aim to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday confirmed the qualification path for Africa on Thursday in Cotonou, Ivory Coast shortly after the 45th CAF Ordinary Assembly.
Uganda finds itself in Group G, set to battle it out with nations like Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana, and the Horn of Africa nation, Somalia.
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20:05 - 12.07.2023
FOOTBALL Villa secures Shs4 billion sponsorship deal, resurrects stadium construction plans
The sponsorship package worth $1,250,000 (over Shs4.5B) for five years will be unveiled on July 27th at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.
The group phase promises a series of fierce encounters, as each team vies for the top spot that guarantees direct entry into the World Cup.
For the Cranes, the task ahead is demanding, but not insurmountable. They path to qualification will require them to revisit past encounters and overturn previous outcomes.
The Cranes faced off with Algeria during the group phase qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered 2-0 defeats in both encounters.
Their last bout with Guinea in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers had a similar narrative; an initial 2-0 victory for the Cranes was followed by an equal defeat, subsequently crushing their chances of qualifying for the tournament.
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14:19 - 13.07.2023
FOOTBALL Vipers intent on legal action against former coach Isabirye
The spotlight is now on Vipers Sports Club and their former head coach as the football world waits with bated breath for the outcome of this tussle.
Elsewhere, age-old footballing rivalries are set to be rekindled. Neighbouring nations South Sudan and Sudan will face off in Group B, a group that also includes African champions Senegal, DR Congo, and Togo, a 2006 World Cup participant.
Morocco, semi-finalists in the 2022 World Cup, is poised to make another run for qualification. Standing in their way are teams from Zambia, Tanzania, Congo, Eritrea, and Niger.
Group C is another hotbed of competition, with Nigeria and South Africa set to vie for a World Cup spot against Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Benin.
Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast, which last participated in the World Cup in 2014, finds itself in Group F, where they will face competition from nations like Gabon, Kenya, Burundi, and Gambia.
The winner from each group will secure direct entry into the World Cup. The four best group runners-up will then participate in play-offs to determine who advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Thequalification campaign for the World Cup will commence in November 2023 and run until October 2025, with the inter-confederation playoffs set to be played in November 2025.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the first expansion, and change of any kind, in the competition's format since 1998.
The tournament will take place from a yet to be determined date in June to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in the three North American countries.
For the first time the FIFA World Cup will include 48 teams, an expansion by 16 compared with the previous seven tournaments.
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The teams will be split in 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top two of each group and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to a new round of 32.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS GROUPS - AFRICA
Group A: Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Egypt
Group B: Sudan, South Sudan, Togo, Mauritania, DR Congo, Senegal
Group C: Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho, Benin, South Africa, Nigeria
Group D: Libya, Swaziland, Mauritius, Angola, Cape Verde, Cameroon
Group E: Tanzania, Niger, Eritrea, Congo Brazzaville, Zambia, Morocco
Group F: The Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles, Kenya, Gabon, Ivory Coast
Group G: Mozambique, Botswana, Somalia, Uganda, Guinea, Algeria
Group H: Malawi, Sao Tome & Principe, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia
Group I: Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad, Madagascar, Ghana, Mali
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