Uganda Cranes defender Bevis Mugabi is hopeful and confident about the team’s chances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Uganda open their campaign away in Kenya on September 2 before hosting Mali four days later at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
Mugabi, who plies his trade at Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC, is not part of the Cranes squad with reports pointing at tight Covid19 travel restrictions.
He is expected to make the trips for the next games, starting with October’s double-header against Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars.
Weighing in on Uganda’s chances at the qualifiers in an interview with FIFA website, the lanky defender said: “I don’t see why we shouldn’t be aiming to qualify.”
“My view is that we shouldn’t limit ourselves in our goals and ambitions. And I don’t feel that going to the World Cup is unrealistic for us.
“With the young players we have coming through, I don’t see any reason why we can’t be in the picture to make it to Qatar.”
The defender, born in England to Uganda parents, opted to play for the Cranes and made his international debut for Uganda on 24 March 2018 in their 3-1 friendly win over Sao Tome and Príncipe.
The versatile defender was part of the Uganda team that played at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as the Cranes reached knockout.
He remembers: “In the end we got to the last 16, qualifying from a really tough group that had Egypt, Congo and Zimbabwe.
“The progression in the team has been great. Previously, qualifying for the African Cup of Nations was unheard of; now expectations are that we should be there.
“And we want to be at the World Cup too. I feel like that’s the next step for this team, and our next challenge to reach that level.”
Uganda Cranes World Cup Qualification Campaign
September 2
*Kenya Vs Uganda
September 6
*Uganda Vs Mali
October 6
*Rwanda Vs Uganda
October 10
*Uganda Vs Rwanda
November 11
*Uganda Vs Kenya
November 14
*Mali Vs Uganda
