The Confederation of African Football (CAF) honours Uganda Cranes fallen star Abel Dhaira by granting a minute of silence before kick off of Uganda vs Burkina Faso match today at Namboole stadium.
The Cranes lost 0-1 to Burkina Faso on Saturday leaving coach Milutin Sredojevic’s side needing a must win to keep the chances of qualifying for the 2017 Nations intact.
According to fufa.co.ug Dhaira visuals will run on the stadium’s giant screen as well as Uganda Cranes players will wear t-shirts passing on a special message in commemoration of the departed keeper.
CAF sent a condolence message to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) with the approval of CAF’s Secretary General Hicham El Amrani.
‘First of all please accept our heartfelt condolences on behalf of President Issa Hayatou and the CAF Executive Committee for this terrible loss. May God bless his Soul and give patience to his Family’
The message stated more; ‘Your request for the moment of silence is of course approved. My colleagues will make sure the Match Commissioner is informed’.
Dhaira succumbed to cancer on Sunday in Iceland where he was playing his trade as a goalkeeper.
The fallen star was born on 9 September 1987 going on to play club football in Uganda, Congo and Iceland.
Express, URA, AS Vita and ÍBV are the Clubs he played for and made his international debut for Uganda in 2009.
The Ugandan government will take care of all the costs of bringing back the body while FUFA will look after the burial and funeral arrangements in country.
Afcon qualifier
Tonight at 7pm
Uganda vs Burkina Faso
Namboole stadium
Match Tickets: Shs20, 000 (Ordinary), Shs50,000 (VIP), Shs120,000 (VVIP)
Group standings
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
Burkina 3 2 0 1 3 1 6
Uganda 3 2 0 1 3 1 6
Botswana 4 2 0 2 3 4 6
Comoros 4 1 0 3 2 4 3
