Cranes To Avoid South Africa, Kenya In 2019 Afcon Draw

Uganda Cranes have been placed in Pot 3 ahead of the draws for the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) which takes place on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.

The Cranes will avoid facing South Africa, Kenya, Benin, Mauritania and Madagascar in the group stage because they have all been placed in Pot 3.

According to communication from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after an executive meeting on Thursday, the draw procedure was approved and the four pots and seedings for the 24 qualified teams were decided by the latest FIFA rankings.

Uganda qualified for the 2019 Afcon after topping Group L in the qualifiers that had Tanzania, Cape Verde and Lesotho. The 2019 Afcon will take place June 21st to July 19th in Egypt.

“The pots and seedings of the 24 qualified teams were decided based on the latest FIFA world rankings (released 4 April 2019), which is globally accepted and portrays a true reflection of the state of the qualified teams,” stated the CAF communication.

After the draw procedure was released it means Uganda’s chances of facing giants like Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and defending champions Cameroon are very high.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to attend the draws which will take place at the Giza Pyramids. Several President of Football Federations including Moses Magogo of Uganda will also attend the ceremony. Uganda Cranes returned to the big stag of playing at the Afcon in 2017 in Gabon after 39 years.

Pot 1: Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco

Pot 2: Dr Congo, Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Algeria

Pot 3: South Africa, Uganda, Benin, Mauritania, Madagascar, Kenya

Pot 4: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Tanzania, Burundi