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Uganda to face African Champions Cote d'Ivoire in Afcon build-up

Xinhua, November 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Uganda' s national football team will face the Africa champions Cote d'Ivoire early next year in a build-up match ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

Decolas Kiza, a senior official at the Uganda FA told Xinhua on Monday that the two teams will camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates ahead of the tournament scheduled to start in January.

Head coach Milutin Sredojevic told Xinhua that playing the likes of Cote d'Ivoire will give his team a good test and preparations before heading to Gabon.

Sredojevic said there are also efforts to have a build up match with Nigeria, another African football giant.

Uganda last month qualified for the AFCON after 39 years of waiting. Preparations to put up a good show have started.

The Cranes are grouped alongside the Black Stars of Ghana, Egypt and Mali.

Besides hosts Gabon, the other nations that qualified for the 2017 AFCON include; Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Senegal, Togo, DR Congo, Morocco, Ghana, Mali, Egypt and defending champions Cote d'Ivoire. Endit