Preview: Uganda vs. Rwanda - prediction, team news, lineups

Having recorded their first 2022 World Cup qualifying victory last time out, Uganda play host to Rwanda at the St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the away side are still yet to pick up a victory midway through the qualifiers and are now faced with what is a must-win game if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Match preview

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Uganda got their qualifying campaign up and running at the third time of asking with a 1-0 win over Rwanda at the Nyamirambo Stadium on Thursday.

In a contest where clear-cut chances were few and far between, Fahad Bayo scored the decisive goal four minutes shy of the break to hand Milutin Sredojevic's men a much-needed win.

This came off the back of consecutive stalemates against Kenya and Mali where the Cranes were unlucky not to have come away with all three points.

Sunday's hosts have now risen to second place in Group E, two points behind current leaders Mali with three rounds of matches left to play.

Rwanda were narrowly edged out for the second time in three outings which leaves them in a difficult position with only little time remaining.

Sandwiched in-between those defeats for Vincent Mashami's men was a 1-1 draw versus Kenya where they picked up their solitary point to date.

The Amavubi currently sit bottom in the group, a whopping six points off the top and any hopes of a first-ever World Cup appearance are all but over.

However, Sunday's visitors are yet to record an away victory in a competitive outing since 2019 and now is as good a time as any to end that run and give themselves a slim chance of going through.

Team News

With only a three-day recovery window from the last game, both managers might contemplate making some changes in a bid to keep the energy levels high.

Following his winner last time out, 23-year-old Fahad Bayo now averages more than a goal every two games for Uganda and is one to keep an eye on.

Murshid Juuko was suspended for Thursday's clash, but the Express FC midfielder is now eligible to participate once again and could come straight back into the XI.

Fitina Omborenga is now closing in on 50 caps for Rwanda and is set to become just the eighth player in his nation's history to achieve this feat.

Uganda possible starting lineup:
Lukwago; Muleme, Awany, Walusimbi, Iguma; Aucho, Waiswa, Bobosi; Lwanga, Mukwala, Bayo

Rwanda possible starting lineup:
Mvuyekure; Imanishimwe, Rwatubyaye, Nirisarike; Rafael, O. Niyonzima, H. Niyonzima, Omborenga; Muhire, Tuyisenge, Kagere

We say: Uganda 1-1 Rwanda

With only two goals scored between the teams in the qualifiers, we anticipate a nervy and low-scoring affair this weekend and while the visitors come into the game on the back foot, we are backing them to come away with a point at the end of the 90 minutes.

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