CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup – Semi-Final
Uganda vs Tanzania
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Tuesday, 17-12-2019 @3:45pm
LUGOGO – Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named his starting team that will face Tanzania in the semifinals of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
It is almost identical to the one that started in the 2-1 victory over Burundi on opening day.
The only exception is URA FC’s Joachim Ojera who replaces Wakiso Giants FC’s Viane Sekajugo.
Ojera is part of a three-man front-line that will be led by Vipers SC striker Fahad Bayo with Ben Ocen on the other side.
The team also sees KCCA FC goalkeeper Charles Lukwago return between the goalposts after missing two previous games against Eritrea and Djibouti.
Paul Willa, Mustafa Kizza, captain Halid Lwaliwa and John Revita make up the back four.
In midfield, Shafick Kagimu has been handed the anchorman’s role with Bright Anukani and Allan Okello playing in front of him.
Uganda’s last triumph in the competition came in 2012 and they will be hungry to win it again.
However, they will know that they need to be at their best to topple Tanzania, a view that McKinstry also shares.
“Tanzania are very competitive and we know we have to produce our best performance if we are to win tomorrow, noted the North Irishman.
“If we are not at our best, then Tanzania have quality players that can punish us.
“All in all, we are focused on putting up a good performance and hopefully we go through.”
Tanzania have not been at their best so far in the competition as they had to wait for the final round of group games to ensure qualification to the knock-out stage.
A 1-0 loss to Kenya in their opening games was followed with a narrow victory over Zanzibar meaning they had to avoid defeat in their last fixture against Sudan and also pray Zanzibar does not wallop Kenya, to ensure a spot in the last four.
Luckily for them, they drew 0-0 with Sudan and Kenya beat Zanzibar in the other game.
Tanzania are perennial underachievers in the competition having won it on just six occasions since 1974.
Their last triumph came in 2010 when they beat guests Ivory Coast 1-0 in the final played in Dar es Salaam.
Uganda head into the game as strong favourites but with the way the competition always tends to unfold, anything can indeed happen.
The other Semi-final which will kick-off at 1:30pm on the same day pits Kenya against Eritrea. Kenya reached the semis after topping group B while Eritrea were runners ups in Group A.
Cranes starting team vs Tanzania
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), Ben Ocen (Police FC)
Substitutes
Joel Mutakubwa (GK) (Kyetume), Musitafa 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), Viane Sekajugo (Wakiso Giants).