As Ugandan champions KCCA come to terms with the failure to enter the lucrative Caf Champions League groups stages, attacking midfielder Paul Mucureezi has described his emotions about dropping into the Confederation Cup play-off.
“We were almost there in this qualification, we have dug out ourselves. Now, we are hoping to go even further in the CAF Confederation Cup, we should not blush in front of the other teams that have are also fighting to enter the group stages. We have made a lot of effort, us the players, but also the staff and the fans, who were really the 12th man last week so we promise to keep Uganda’s flag raised high.”
For 45 minutes in the return leg against Caf Champions League holders Mamelodi Sundowns, KCCA looked on course to become the third side in four seasons to dump out the reigning champions before the group stages only for veteran Liberian winger Anthony Laffor scored to it 1-1 and 3-2 on aggregate at the start of the second half just after Mucureezi had been withdrawn.
KCCA’s potential CAF Confederation Cup play-off opponents: Smouha (Egypt), Hilal El Obeid Club (Sudan), CRD Libolo (Angola), Maghreb Fez (Morocco), Rayon Sport (Rwanda), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), Zesco United (Zambia), Platinum Stars (South Africa), Club Africain (Tunisia), MC Alger (Algeria), SuperSport United (South Africa), IR Tanger (Morocco), CS Sfaxien (Tunisian), El Masry (Egypt), JS Kabyle (Algeria) and Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland).