Kenneth Semakula: The dream is to take Uganda back to AFCON

Uganda Cranes defender Kenneth Semakula is confident the team can defeat Niger to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The SC Villa defender was speaking ahead of the team’s final AFCON 2023 Qualifiers clash with Niger in Marrakech, Morocco.

“We are well prepared for the game,” Semakula said ahead of the game.

“We are hoping for the best, and we ask for the people back home to give us the support because you also know the weight of the game,” he added.

The Cranes need maximum points against a Niger side that cannot qualify regardless of what result they post in their final game.

Uganda are third on the log, with four points, three behind second-placed Tanzania. Only a win will keep the Cranes in contention.

“We hope for the best because our dream is to take our country back to AFCON,” Semakula revealed.

Uganda has managed a single win in the qualifiers, Rogers Mato’s late goal sealing victory against Tanzania in Dar es Salam to keep the Cranes in touching distance.

The Cranes have missed the last two editions of AFCON and will be hoping to take part in early next year’s competition to be staged in Cote d’Ivoire.

Tanzania will face Algeria in Algiers, hoping to avoid defeat and qualify at the expense of the Cranes.

Should Tanzania avoid defeat against the Desert Foxes, Uganda’s chances of returning to the continental showpiece will be blown out of the window.