Mali Beats Rwanda to Confirm Top Spot in Group E and End Cranes Hopes for Qualification

Uganda Cranes remained with totally no hopes of qualifying for World Cup 2022 to be hosted in Qatar after Mali beat Rwanda 3:0 to make it five points ahead of the Cranes with one match to end the second round qualification.

Mousa Djenepo who plays for Southampton in English Premier League opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Ibrahima Kone of Sarpsborg 08 doubled the lead in the 20th before Nantes midfielder Kalifa Coulibaly nailed in the last nail in the coffin to hand Mali a slot in the last qualification round.

Uganda needed Rwanda to beat Mali and they (Cranes) beat Mali in the last group match to qualify for the third round.

With Mali five points above Uganda and one match left to play, Uganda can not take any advancement in the qualification process. Mali will thus represent group E in the third and also the last round of qualification where only five teams will represent Africa to the Qatar 2020/2 World Cup.

Uganda will play its last match of the qualification on Sunday 14th against Mali in a multi-use Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Morocco.

Because of an insecure political atmosphere and failure to reach harmony between Mali and Guinea, Confederation of African Football decided Morocco to host the match between Uganda and Mali.