ENTEBBE – Like it has become the norm, the Uganda Men’s football national team, the Cranes continues to impress HE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The president of Uganda once again treated the team to an outing at his residence in Entebbe, hours after they returned from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The president who was full of praise for the Cranes hosted them on Monday, June 8th, congratulating the team on their success in Egypt.
“I congratulate you although you didn’t win all the games, you achieved some reasonable success. Said Mr. Museveni.
“I don’t know how Senegal got that one goal, because i can see you are all fit and young.
Like so many Ugandans back at home, president was following proceedings closely and promised the Cranes $1m for reaching the round of 16.
“I will work with government to organize USD 1 million to distribute among the players and the officials. Although officials will not get as much as the players.” Continued Mr. Museveni.
The money is set to be shared among the players and support staff that was in Egypt for the 32nd edition of AFCON.
Uganda impressed at the finals which started on Friday, June 21st.
Their opening game saw the Cranes defeat DR Congo 2-0 on Saturday, June 22nd. Emmanuel Okwi and Patrick Kaddu scored the two goals with each coming in either half.
In their second encounter, the Cranes drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe in a game that saw Okwi temporarily give the Cranes a 12th minute lead.
Their final group game was against the hosts-Egypt and the Cranes lost it 0-2.
After the three group games, Uganda progressed to the round of 16 after finishing second in the group with 4 points, 5 behind leaders Egypt.
However, before the round of 16 clash with Senegal, the team held a stand-off, refusing to train on Tuesday last week as they demanded for $6000, they claimed FUFA owed them.
The matter was eventually solved with the Federation bowing down to the players demands.
In their round of 16 clash with the Lions of Teranga, the Cranes would lose 0-1 to exit the competition.
However, in reaching the last 16, the Cranes had made history, reaching the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in 41 years, since losing the final to Ghana in 1978.
The Uganda Cranes team that took part in the 2019 AFCON
Goalkeepers
Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Jamal Salim (Al Hilal-Sudan), Robert Odongkara (Adama City, Ethiopia)
Defenders
Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam, Tanzania), Brian Ronald Ddungu Mukiibi (Ostersunds, Sweden), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Bevis Mugabi (Yeovil Town, England), Isaac Muleme (FK Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Un attached), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Timothy Denis Awanyi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Godfrey Walusimbi (Un-attached)
Midfielders
Mike Azira (Montreal Impact, Canada), Allan Kateregga (Maritzburg, South Africa), William Kizito Luwagga (Shakhter Karagandy, Kazakhstan), Khalid Aucho (Church Hill Brothers, India), Faruku Miya (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Abdul Lumala (Syrianska, Sweden), Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers SC-Uganda)
Strikers
Patrick Henry Kaddu (KCCA FC, Uganda), Derrick Nsibambi (Smouha, Egypt), Allan Kyambadde (KCCA FC Uganda), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Simba, Tanzania)