CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
Uganda vs Eritrea
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Thursday, 19-12-2019 @3:45pm
LUGOGO – Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named his XI that will start against Eritrea in the Final of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup on Thursday afternoon at the StarTimes Stadium Lugogo.
The North Irishman has made just a single change to the team that started the 1-0 victory over Tanzania in the semi-final.
Wakiso Giants’ forward Viane Sekajugo is the only change as he replaces Police FC winger Ben Ocen.
Sekajugo will line up alongside Vipers SC striker Fahad Bayo and URA FC pacey winger Joachim Ojera in a three-man attack.
The rest of the team remains unchanged as goalkeeper Charles Lukwago returns to the number one position with Vipers SC full-back Paul Willa on the right while Mustafa Kizza occupies the left of a four-man backline.
Skipper Halid Lwaliwa and John Revita retain their central defence positions.
Shafiq Kagimu, Allan Okello and Bright Anukani will team-up in the midfield.
This is Uganda’s first CECAFA final in four years since losing to Ethiopia in the showpiece game back then.
It is also 7 years since they last lifted the trophy and hunger among the football fraternity for the crown is evident.
For Eritrea, this is the first time that they are reaching the final.
Their best performance came in the 1994 edition hosted in Kenya where they reached the semi-finals of the competition before losing to eventual winners Tanzania 1-0.
They went on to finish 4th that year after also losing the third-place playoff game 1-0 to Kenya.
Eritrea have already made history but will be hungry for more after an impressive tournament to their standards.
Two victories, a loss and a draw saw them finish second in Group A and went on to produce one hell of a performance as they defeated Kenya 4-1 in the semi-finals.
Whether Eritrea wins it or not, they have had a tournament to remember and one that may be a catalyst to their growth as a footballing nation.
Uganda Cranes XI to face Eritrea on Thursday
Charles Lukwago (GK, KCCA FC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Mustafa Kizza (KCCA FC), John Revita (KCCA FC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Shafiq Kagimu (URA FC), Bright Anukani (Proline FC), Allan Okello (KCCA FC), Joachim Ojera (URA FC), Fahad Bayo (Vipers SC), Viane Sekajugo (Wakiso Giants)
Substitutes
Joel Mutakubwa (GK) (Kyetume), Mustafa Mujuzi (Proline FC), Paul Mbowa (URA FC), Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Nicolas Kasozi (KCCA FC), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA FC, Steven Mukwala (Maroons FC), Joel Madondo (Busoga United) Ben Ocen (Police FC)
