Uganda Cranes and KCCA defender Mustafa Kizza has downplayed claims of pressure to get a win against Harambee Stars ahead of their nternational friendly match to be staged at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 20-year-old defender who has previously turned out for the Uganda U20 team, the Hippos, will be keen to impress coach Abdallah Mubiru ahead of their 2020 CHAN qualifier match against Burundi later this month, the same case as the other local-based players in the squad.
“We are not under pressure playing away from home. This is only a friendly match and we have played a lot of matches away. We are just focused on giving a good account of ourselves,” said Kizza after landing in Nairobi on Friday morning.
Uganda will be looking to extend their superior win record against Kenya where they lead the charts with 32 wins to Harambee Stars’ 22.
The teams have 22 draws in between them, one coming in 2017 when the teams played out to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County. Prior, Uganda had won three, drew once and lost once to Kenya in their last five meetings.
The Ugandan squad boasts of a host of foreign players including attackers Okwi Emmanuel and youngster Allan Okello who play for Al Ittihad in the Egyptian League and Ugandan side, KCCA respectively. Khalid Aucho will also be returning to Kenya having previously played for Tusker FC and Gor Mahia in the Kenyan Premier League.
Uganda team that will play Kenya
Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa, Charles Lukwago
Defenders: Timothy Awanyi, Halid Lwaliwa, John Revita, Paul Willa, Mustapha Mujjuzi,
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho, Tadeo Lwanga, Kizito Luwagga, Mustafa Kizza, Allan Kayiwa, Fahad Bayo, Muzamir Mutyaba, Paul Mucureezi
Forwards: Emmanuel Okwi, Bright Anukani, Allan Okello