Beach Soccer AFCON 2021: DR Congo Plays Destroyer Role Pulls out of Competition
By: Hassan Sendija
With less than three days to the commence of Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals in Senegal, Uganda Sand Cranes’ group mate, DR Congo pulled out of the competition.
The tournament debutant, Dr Congo announced their withdrawal from the tournament on Thursday, 20th May 2021 and yet the tourney starts on Sunday, 23rd this same month.
Teams have already reported in Saly a Senegalese City which is located on the shores of Atlantic Ocean.
Dr Congo was among the expected countries to arrive but the host just managed to welcome their withdraw news.
The Uganda’s neighbors, Congo are yet to give the official communication as to why they pulled out of the tournament.
This destroyed the plans of the tournament organizers resulting to the revision of the fixture to cause Uganda starting the tournament a day early compared to communicated date.
Uganda Sand Cranes now will be opening their journey hosts Senegal on 23rd.
The withdrawal of Congo entered Cranes plans and in one way or the other it diminished their chances to progress out of Group
As the Sands Cranes enjoying Atlantic winds they will have their first Covid-19 tests on Friday 21st at 10am and they will be having the same test the following day before their first fixture.
Updates from Senegal indicate that Cranes landed safely and they are in good shape as UBSA Chairman Deo Mutabazi explains “Our team landed safely in Saly a City which seats an hour drive away from the Senegalese Capital, Dakar, it was a long Journey from Entebbe to Addis Ababa, connected to Bamako and then to Saly.
It was a long journey but the boy are very fine, the weather is not too different from the one at home and the boys will easily adopt to it.
We have all the needed requirements to prepare the boys for the tournament and I am assuring Ugandans that we are to compete effectively“
Uganda reached Senegal on Thursday Morning and got accommodated at Royam Hotel.
The revised group stage fixtures
23rd May
Egypt vs Mozambique
Morocco vs Seychelles
Uganda vs Senegal
24th May
Tanzania vs Uganda
Mozambique vs Seychelles
25th May
Seychelles vs Egypt
Mozambique vs Morocco
26th May
Egypt vs Morocco
Senegal vs Tanzania.