The Uganda Cranes are expected to depart for Cameroon on Monday, December 28.
Hours before departure, a squad of 25 players that will take part in a mini-tournament that will be played before the CHAN finals, has been announced.
The squad which does not feature KCCA FC players will leave Entebbe International airport at 3pm EAT.
KCCA FC will take on AS Kigali in the return leg of their CAF Confederations Cup first round tie later this week and it is after that, that their players will head to Cameroon to join the other 25.
The Cranes have been in camp for a week and have been fortunate not to suffer any serious injuries.
The only negative was the axing of Fred Kajoba as the goal keeping coach after he left camp without permission. Sadiq Wassa has been brought in to replace Kajoba.
Speaking ahead of departure, Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry noted that he is pleased with the players and the fact that they are all in good physical shape.
“We have been in camp for a week and the players have been very focused and pushing hard. He said.
“You could see-in terms of the enthusiasm and the energy that every players wants to go to Cameroon and represent the nation.
“We have been pleased with that and have gone through it all without injuries aside from a few knocks.”
Uganda will take on the likes of Cameroon, Niger and Zambia in the mini-tournament between January 01-07, one that McKinstry says will help prepare the team further.
“Now we travel to Cameroon to participate in a mini tournament and we think this is a good platform for the players to get more preparation. He continued.
“We also look at some of the opponents who we may play with later in the tournament and they will give us a proper picture of what to expect in the group as they play similar football to our group opposition.”
Uganda has never progressed past the group stages of the CHAN tournament, on all of their first four attempts.
However, going into next year’s competitions, McKinstry is optimistic they can Pedro better and reach the final stages.
“We have to have an attitude of ‘why not us’ because small nations have gone on to put up a good show at CHAN tournaments.
“The difference between the teams is not too much at the finals and we go into it with confidence that if we perform well, we have the potential to go further and may be reach the final week of the tournament.”
Uganda is in group C of the finals along with Morocco, Rwanda and Togo.
The CHAN tournament will start on January 16 and end on February 07.
The Cranes squad traveling to Cameroon on Monday
Goalkeepers
Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume FC), Nafian Alionzi (URA FC), Tom Ikara (Police FC)
Defenders
Eric Ssenjobe (Police FC), Aziz Kayondo (Vipers SC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Ashraf Mandela (URA FC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Musitafa Mujuzi (Kyetume FC), Patrick Mbowa (URA FC), Hassan Muhammad (Police FC)
Midfielders
Shafiq Kagimu (URA FC), Tony Mawejje (Police FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Saidi Kyeyune (URA FC), Hassan Ssenyonjo (Wakiso Giants FC)
Fowards
Ben Ocen (Police FC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants FC), Joseph Ssemujju (BUL FC), Joackim Ojera (URA FC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Stephen Mukwala (URA FC), Mohamed Shaban (Vipers SC)
