KAMPALA – Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre has named a squad of 28 players that will be part of the Abu Dhabi camp later this month.
The squad has seen several surprise exclusions including Milton Karisa who featured prominently in the qualifiers’ set-up.
Karisa is joined on the list of exclusions, by Raja Casablanca striker Muhammad Shaban and Edrisa Lubega.
The team that was announced on Tuesday morning includes 4 goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 11 midfielders and four strikers.
KCCA FC custodian Charles Lukwago who was initially dropped to the COSAFA bound team will join camp after the championships in Durban, South Africa. He is joined by Captain Denis Onyango, Robert Odongkara and Salim Jamal as the four custodians.
In defence, Swedish based-Ronald Mukiibi and Yeovil Town’s Bevis Mugabi have made the list and will take part in the preparations despite being away from the set-up, for a while.
There have been two surprise call ups as uncapped Lumala Abdul and Alexis Bakka (both playing in Sweden), have also been included.
The Cranes who have been in camp for the past week or so are preparing to take part in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. They are set to hold another camp in Abu Dhabi and will fly out of the country on May 27.
In the United Arab Emirates, they will play two Friendly games before setting off to Abidjan, Ivory Coast where they will also camp for a few days. From there, the will head to Cairo, Egypt for the finals tournament.
The Squad to Abu Dhabi:
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns-South Africa), Jamal Salim (Al Hilal-Sudan), Robert Odongkara (Adama City FC-Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC-Uganda).
Defenders: Bevis Mugabi (Yeovil Town- England), Nicholas Wadada (Azam FC-Tanzania), Awanyi Timothy (KCCA FC-Uganda), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Unattached), Ronald Mukiibi (Ostersunds-Sweden), Murushid Juuko (Simba-Tanzania), Godfrey Walsumbi (Unattached), Muleme Isaac ( FK Viktoria Zizkov- Czech Republic), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe-DR Congo).
Midfielders: Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers SC-Uganda), Khalid Aucho (Church Hill Brothers Fc-India), Kirizestom Ntambi- Coffee FC –Ethiopia), Lumala Abdul (Syrianska FC -Sweden) Michael Azira (Montreal-USA), Waisswa Moses (Vipers SC-Uganda), Sadam Juma (KCCA FC-Uganda), Faruku Miya (HNK Gorica FC- Croatia), Kizito Luwagga (Shakhter Karagandy-Kazakhstan), Kateregga Allan ( Maritzburg-South Africa), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba SC – Tanzania) .
Strikers: Patrick Kaddu (KCCA FC-Uganda), Allan Kyambadde (KCCA FC-Uganda), Alexis Bakka (Carlstad United- Sweden), Nsibambi Derrick (Smouha- Egypt).
