CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
7-19 December 2019
Kampala, Uganda
KAMPALA – Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named his final squad for the upcoming CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
The gaffer and his technical team named a list of 20 players, dropping five from the number that held the final training session at StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo on Friday.
Headlining the list of dropped players is Vipers SC attacker Allan Kayiwa.
Kayiwa has been in and out of the national team set-up and after several below-per performances for his club side, it comes as no surprise that he had been dropped.
Kayiwa is joined on the list by goalkeeper Saidi Keni and defenders Samuel Kato, Disan Ggaliwango and Ashraf Mandela.
There has been two surprise inclusion in the team with the youthful Karim Watambala and Joachim Ojera making the cut.
Watambala has been one of the revelations of the season, putting up several man of the match performances in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) for his club side-Vipers SC this season.
For Ojera, he has continued to star in a URA FC team that has punched below it’s weight this season, continuing where he left off last campaign.
It was also confirmed that Vipers SC captain will skipper the team.
After naming the squad, McKinstry was quick to stress how difficult it was to name the final 20.
“The decision of selecting the 20 players was difficult, said the North Irishman.
“We have had 26 players in the previous days. Me and my coaches discussed for more than two hours to have the final list.
“Not because we lack talent but there is so much of it with in the squad and those that missed out were just unfortunate.”
Uganda Cranes is in Group A of the competition alongside Burundi, Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
The opening match is against Burundi on Saturday, December 7th at 4:00 pm at the StarTimes at Stadium Lugogo.
The Cranes will then face Somalia in the second game on Monday before playing against Eritrea and Djibouti on Wednesday and Sunday respectively.
The final squad
Goalkeepers
Charles Lukwago (KCCCA FC) and Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume FC)
Defenders
Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Mustafa Kizza (KCCA FC), John Revita (KCCA FC), Musitafa Mujuzi (Proline FC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC) (Capt), Paul Mbowa (URA FC)
Midfielders
Shafiq Kagimu (URA FC), Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Nicolas Kasozi (KCCA FC), Bright Anukani (Proline FC), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA FC)
Forwards
Allan Okello (KCCA FC), Viane Sekajugo (Wakiso Giants), Joachiam Ojera (URA FC), Ben Ocen (Police FC), Joel Madondo (Busoga United), Fahad Bayo (Vipers SC), Steven Mukwala (Maroons FC)
