Group A is entering Match Day two and Uganda is hoping to end their 41-year knock-out stage jigs in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 when they take on Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium.
Uganda Cranes started their Group A campaign with an emphatic 2-0 win against Dr Congo, their first AFCON win since defeating Nigeria 2-1 in March, 1978.
Another win for Uganda against Zimbabwe on Wednesday would go a long way to sealing a historic qualification for the East African nation, which is yet to reach the knock-out stage in the tournament since 1978.
Zimbabwe, who succumbed to a slim 1-0 defeat to hosts Egypt in the opening match, are still hopeful that they would qualify against the odds.
With the squad certainly looking sound in both attack and defense, Uganda are seemingly the favourites in the contest taking place on Wednesday, June 26.
Zimbabwe, popularly known as the Warriors, will be seeking to bounce back from their opening defeat in a must-win clash on Wednesday.
Despite losing to Egypt in the AFCON 2019 opening match, Zimbabwe’s Warriors are confident of upsetting Uganda Cranes.
–Head-to-head statistics–
The two teams have met 14 times in the past, with Zimbabwe winning seven and drawing on two occasions. Interestingly The Uganda Cranes have won just two of their 14 games against Zimbabwe in all competitions (D8 L5).
The last time the two teams met was in 2016 and Zimbabwe won 2-0.
It will be the first time both nations are meeting in the AFCON tournament. The two teams, however, have met in the qualifiers to the tournament and the last time they met, it ended in a 1-1 draw.
Uganda managed to score two goals in their four head-to-head clashes, while Zimbabwe scored thrice.
–Starting line-up–
Uganda: Denis Onyango, Murushid Jjuuko, Bevis Mugabi, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa, Emmanuel Okwi, Khalid Aucho, Farouk Miya, Lumala Abdu, Micheal Azira and Patrick Kaddu.
Zimbabwe: Chigova, Tendayi Darikwa, Devine Lunga, Alex Mudimu, Teenage Lingani Hadebe, Marshall Munetsi, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Marvelous Nakamba, Ovidy Obvious Karuru and Nyasha Mushekwi.
