2008 Beijing - Uganda to face Niger in their 2010 World Cup opener

KAMPALA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is to face Niger at the weekend of May 30-June 1, 2008 in their first qualifier for the 2010 African Nations Cup.

The same games will also serve as qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Uganda beat Niger 3-1 at Namboole in the final qualifier for the Ghana 2008 ANC finals.

Uganda will then travel to Benin on the weekend of June 6-8, which will be followed by a double header with Angola, with the Cranes hosting the Black Panthers on June 13-15, before encountering them in the return fixture in Luanda on June 20-22, 2008.

The Cranes will travel to Niamey in September 5-7 to face Niger and wind up with a home fixture against Benin on October 10-12, 2008.

"The fixtures look a bit congested and as you realize, we shall have four games in a space of one month," said Rogers Mulindwa, the Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA) media committee boss.

"At first we thought it was a mistake but it applies to all the groups. As usual, we shall be up to the challenge because we (FUFA) need to prepare for the financial responsibilities that will crop up," added Mulindwa, quoted by Daily Monitor on Thursday.

It seems that FIFA have congested the fixture deliberately to take advantage of the summer season when European clubs will all be out of action as Euro 2008 takes center-stage.

The run-in to Ghana 2008 had Uganda win all its home games and if this trend continues, then a win over Niger in the opener, and another home fixture with Angola 14 days later should give the nation hope. Both Angola and Benin are to play at the Ghana 08 finals, though the latter are ranked lower than Uganda in FIFA rankings.