CAF made an inexplicable decision to re-draw matches, pitting Uganda against Botswana
NCMP
October 18, 2021
Uganda was drawn against Botswana in the third round of the 2022 Fifa U-20 Women World Cup qualifiers after Caf made an inexplicable decision to re-draw the matches.
The first leg of the match will take place in Botswana between December 2 and 4, with the second leg taking place in Kampala between December 16 and 18.
Uganda – who defeated Kenya 10-3 on aggregate in the second round – had South Africa waiting in the following round, with just a confirmation of dates awaiting, according to the draught fixture that was maintained for the first two rounds.
Coach Ayub Khalifa, on the other hand, had anticipated a “difficult encounter” that he would have like to avoid after defeating almost half of the South African team in the Cosafa U-17 Women Championships finals in Mauritius in 2019.
“Of sure, both teams (Uganda and South Africa) will come to exact vengeance,” Khalifa added, “since both teams (Uganda and South Africa) are employing players that were in Mauritius.”
“That makes it a difficult match, so I’d rather play against a team we haven’t faced before until the girls step up a little more.”
Khalifa may not have all he wants, but in Botswana, he will face a team that he defeated 12-0 in the quarterfinals in Mauritius.
Uganda’s tie is also in the side of the draw that contains Guinea, Gabon, Zambia, Congo, Burkina Faso, and the Gambia, according to the current fixtures.
If this trend continues, Khalifa’s U-20s will be able to escape perennial qualifiers Ghana and Nigeria, who are in the same side of the draw, and will have a strong chance of qualifying for the final tournament in Costa Rica, where Africa will only have two representatives.
Caf has previously shown that they can always redraw the lots, so this should not be the reason for celebration.
U-20 WC qualifiiers-Africa
Third Round FIXTURES
Tanzania vs. Ethiopia
South Africa vs. Ghana
Morocco vs. Senegal
Cameroon vs. Nigeria
Botswana vs. Uganda
Zambia vs. Congo
Burkina Faso vs. Gambia
Guinea vs. Gabon
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