2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Group D):
1st Leg: 31st August 2017:
- Uganda Vs Egypt – Namboole, Kampala
2nd Leg: 6th September 2017
- Egypt Vs Uganda Cranes – Alexanderia
While officially releasing the 27 man Uganda Cranes squad on Wednesday prior to the two legged group D double header against Egypt in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday, interim coach Moses Basena called for collective effort.
Basena in his first official address to the media at FUFA House during the weekly press conferences lauded the players, fans, media and other stake holders for the success registered in qualifying for CHAN 2018.
We faced a tough test to qualify for CHAN 2018 tournament. This alone was a great preparation for the matches coming up against Egypt. We believe we shall achieve. Uganda is ready to face any team on the African continent.
Basena’s key concern is a crop of players still in the off season who are yet to get enough game time.
“The only concern at the moment is to those players”. Basena said in his brief address to the attentive media.
Returning back on the team is Zambia-based defender, Isaac Isinde who features at Buildcon F.C, crafty midfielder William Luwagga Kizito who just signed for CSM Politehnica Iași in Romania and hardworking defensive midfielder Ivan ‘Kojja’ Ntege who recently signed for Botswana reigning champions, Township Rollers.
Luwagga had sworn never to play for the national team again under former coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic.
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On summoning Luwagga again, Basena defended the decision basing on Christianity pillars;
As a christian, forgiveness is always key as preached by Jesus Christ. He (Jesus Christ) always associated with sinners. Luwagga sinned and acknowledged. He sought for forgiveness.
St George goalkeeper Robert Odongkara, Joseph Ochaya (Lusaka Dynamos) and Lebanese based right back Dennis Iguma make a return to the team having missed out the AFCON 2019 group L qualifier away to Cape Verde in June.
Standard Liege’s Farouk Miya, Tanzanian based Murushid Jjuuko (of Simba Sports Club), Zambia based Joseph Ochaya and Geofrey Sserunkuma, Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba, Tanzania) are the other foreign based players.
Others are a cast of locally based players (12) in the domestic Uganda Premier League.
These are; Ismail Watenga (Vipers), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Vipers), Isaac Muleme (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Bernard Muwanga (SC Villa Jogoo), Paul Musamali (KCCA), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Moses Waiswa (Vipers), Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA) and Milton Karisa (Vipers).
Meanwhile, the national team will have a tour to the North East region in Bukedea this coming weekend.
Uganda Cranes team summoned:
- Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Odongkara (St George, Ethiopia), Ismail Watenga (Vipers), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA)
- Defenders: Nico Wakiro Wadada (Vipers), Isaac Muleme (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Bernard Muwanga (SC Villa Jogoo), Geofrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Dennis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Paul Musamali (KCCA), Isaac Isinde (Buildcon, Zambia)
- Midfielders: William Luwagga Kizito (CSM Politehnica Iași, Romania), Aucho Khalid (Unattached), Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Ivan ‘Kojja’ Ntege (Township Rollers, Botswana), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Moses Waiswa (Vipers), Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Wasswa Hassan Mawanda (Njimeh Lebanon), Joseph Ochaya (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia)
- Strikers: Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA), Geofrey Sserunkuma (Buildcon, Zambia), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba, Tanzania), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium)