Wednesday, July 6
•Senegal Vs Uganda – 4pm
Uganda meet Senegal at Stade Delort, Marseille (France) in seeding games at the Qualifiers of the 2023 World Cup.
The Rugby Cranes were well beaten against Kenya on Saturday ending their faint dream of qualifying to the World Cup next year in France place in France due 8 September to 28 October 2023.
Uganda’s opponents on Wednesday, Senegal, suffered a shocking 35-12 loss in a game they finished a man down after a red card.
Kenya will therefore continue their pursuit for a maiden World Cup appearance when they meet Algeria, while the other semifinal is between favorites Namibia and Zimbabwe Sables.
Uganda will seek to make amends when they meet Senegal after a defeat, that was only shocking in the manner that the Cranes barely put up a contest in a derby.
Kenya were on course for an easy win when they strolled through Uganda’s defence in early stages and deservedly led 28-00 at the break.
And it could have been worse for Uganda who saw Kenya’s two tries cancelled.
The result helped Kenya rise in World Rankings to 33rd, but Uganda was static in 52nd position.
Senegal on the other hand, slipped by nine places to 54 and it cannot get any worse for the West African side.
Senegal are a good side, and that defeat against Algeria is a not a good measure of poor they have become.
They beat Kenya 20-19 in Qualifiers at Nyayo en-route to France and will back their processes to down another East African side.
Coach Fred Mudoola has rang three changes from the team that was laid bare by Kenya Simbas – Try scorer Jacob Ochen starts ahead of Mark Omoding.
Komakech Akera is in for Eliphaz Emong at 5 while Solomon Okia has paved way for Joseph Aredo.
Aredo will play at fullback while Phillip Wokorach starts in the right wing.
With the top four places already taken by the semifinalists, the remaining four teams – Uganda, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso – are fighting for places 5, 6, 7 and 8 plus ranking points.
If Uganda beat Senegal, they will meet winner between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso for which team finishes fifth (best of the rest).
