FOOTBALL–The Uganda Cranes will Tuesday evening take on Congo Brazzaville in the second of their two CHAN 2018 build up games before the tournament starts on Friday.
The Cranes drew 1-1 with Guinea on Saturday in their first build up game in which they required a second half equaliser by Bright Stars captain Nelson Ssenkatuka.
Head coach Sebastian Desabre hailed the team after Saturday’s impressive draw and will hope that more of the same perfomance can be exhibited aginst Congo today.
“This game on Saturday gave me a chance to assess players further which allows me to make a choice on the squad and line up,” said Desabre.
“I liked the attitude, mentality and character of the team in the game against Guinea and hope for more of the same when we play Congo. We created decent chances in the first half on Saturday and if we can create more today and hopefully bury them, it will be better for us,” he said.
Desabre is expected to name the two players who will be dropped from the list of 25 still in camp so as to remain with the required 23 as per the rules.
With the 25 players consisting of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, 11 midfielders and three strikers, it is highly expected that the two players to be dropped will be selected from the midfield department.
Reports coming from Morocco suggest that KCCA attacking midfielder Muzamir Mutyaba may be one of the two players to be dropped after failing to impress the French man so far.
Mutyaba has been regular in the Cranes set up for a while but his performance has been below average in the recent times for both club and country.
Other players from who Desabre may drop include Bright Stars’ midfielder Seif Batte, Police’s Rahmat Senfuka and Express’s young sensation Abubaker Kasule.
Cranes first game at CHAN 2018 will be against Zambia on Saturday before taking on Namibia four days later and then playing Ivory Coast on the 22nd.
The list of players in Morocco.
Goalkeepers:
Ochan Benjamin, Ismael Watenga, Saidi Keni
Defenders:
Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Nsubuga, Timothy Awany, Bernard Muwanga, Mustapha Mujjuzi, Aggrey Madoi, Isaac Muleme, Mustapha Kizza
Midfielders:
Milton Karisa, Paul Mucurezi, Allan Kyambadde, Seif Batte, Rahmat Senfuka, Abubaker Kasule, Tadeo Lwanga, Moses Waisswa, Saddam Juma, Muzamil Mutyaba, Tom Masiko.
Strikers:
Shaban Muhammad, Derrick Nsibambi , Nelson Senkatuka.
