AFCON U-20 QUALIFIERS, first leg:
Uganda Hippos vs Cameroon
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Saturday, 12-05-2018 @04:00pm
The Uganda U-20 National team, the Hippos have officially entered into residential camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
The Hippos are preparing for their second round first leg qualifier against Cameroon in the Total U-20 African Cup of Nations, Niger 2019 campaign.
With the game only a few days away, head coach Matia Lule has confirmed a team of 26 players that will be camping at Njeru as they prepare for the young ‘Indomitable Lions’.
The list includes French based Agiri Bashir who plays for lower division side AS Beziers among others from Uganda’s top flight, second tier and several schools.
The major absentee from the list is Proline’s Joshua Okiror who featured for the Hippos in the two legged affair with South Sudan.
Okiror has been struggling with fitness since then and has barely featured for his club in the Azam Uganda Premier League.
However, AMUS College Bukedi goalkeeper Okello Solomon has been called up along with Herbert Katongole of big league side Kansai Plascon.
Despite their confirmation in the list, Allan Okello, Julius Poloto, Fred Okot, Mustapha Kiiza, Steven Mukwala, Geoffrey Waswa and Frank Tumwesigye did not travel with the team to Njeru the to club commitments in the upcoming Azam Uganda Premier League but there is assurance that they will all join up with the team later this week.
The head coach Matia Lule had a word of inspiration and motivation for the players upon arrival as he urged them to keep their heads high.
“I am glad to be working with a group of players that i am positive will represent the Nation in numerous occasions from now going forward, said Lule.
“Being here means that you have a path to the senior National team, that is if you strive as hard as you can.
“There are going to be a lot of challenges but if you keep you heads high, nothing is impossible in the end.
“My job is to nature you the best way i can and you do your bit by replicating all the training we do on the field of play.
Uganda will take on Cameroon in the first leg of the second round of qualifiers at the StarTimes stadium in Saturday before heading for Yaoundé seven days later.
In the first round, the Hippos defeated South Sudan 8-1 over two legs including a 5-1 drubbing of the South Sudanese in Kampala.
For Cameroon, they received a ‘by’ in the first round so the game next Saturday will be their first in the qualifiers.
Vipers’ Steven Mukwala is the top scorer of the qualifiers with two goals from as many games and he will be one of the players looked upon to inflict the desired damage come Saturday afternoon.
The 26 players that have been summoned for the U-20 side:
Achay Herbert (Kibuli SS), Bashir Asiku (Vipers), Ivan Eyam (Kataka FC), Bashir Kagiri (AS Beziers, France), Alpha Kakonga (Kyetume FC), Abubaker Kasule (Not Attached), Herbert Katongole (Kansai Plascon), Said Keni (Proline FC), Robert Kitabalwa (St. Mary’s Kitende), Mustapha Kiiza (KCCA FC), Mustapha Mujuzi (Proline FC), All Mukiibi (Kisugu FC), Steven Mukwala (Vipers SC), Billy Nkata (Express FC), Solomon Okello (Amus College), Allan Okello (KCCA FC), Fred Okot (URA FC), Raymond Onyai (Kataka FC), Denis Otim (Mbarara FC), Solomon Ovoyo (Nkumba University), Julius Poloto (KCCA FC), Faisal Ssekyanzi (St. Mary’s Kitende), Hamid Tibita (Bul FC), Frank Tumwesigye (Vipers SC), Geoffrey Wasswa (Vipers SC), Paul Willa (Police FC), Derrick Emmanuel Were (Nkozi University).
The technical Team:
Head Coach: Matia Lule
Assistant Coach: James Odoch
Goalkeeping Coach: Sam Kawalya
Kits Man: Kizito Lawrence
Team Doctor: Nakabago Emmanuel
Team Media Officer: Omaria Bosco
Team Manager: Suliat Makumbi.
