Uganda Cranes new head coach Jonathan McKinstry has named a 25-man provisional squad for the forthcoming 2021 AFCON qualification games against Burkina Faso and Malawi next month.
The 25-man squad includes five locally based players who include Vipers’ red-hot striker Fahad Bayo, KCCA’s Allan Okello, Nicholas Kasozi and Charles Lukwago together with defender Halid Lwaliwa.
Swedish based striker Alexis Bakka is another notable inclusion having been part of the provisional squad prior to the 2019 AFCON tournament.
Salim Jamal, Allan Kateregga and Derrick Nsibambi are some of the players who featured in the 2019 AFCON in Egypt that have been ignored.
Uganda will play against Burkina Faso in Ouogadougou on 13th November before hosting Malawi on 17th November at Namboole.
Meanwhile, Abdallah Mubiru who led Uganda Cranes to the fifth straight CHAN tournament has been confirmed the Mckinstry assistant along Livingstone Mbabazi as the first and second respectively, while Alexander McCarthy will be the team’s fitness coach and Fred Kajoba will serve as the goalkeepers coach while Geoffrey Massa is the team’s cordinator as well as Ayub Balyejjusa as kits manager.
Fufa president Justus Mugisha confirmed the appointments of all backroom staff for McKinstry on interim basis.
The same press conference was also graced by the FUFA Deputy CEO in charge of Football Decolas Kiiza, who gave an update on the tcikets,”The early bird tickets for the home game on 17th November 2019 will go on market starting 2nd November 2019. Uganda Cranes will fly to Burkina Faso on a chartered flight aboard Uganda Airlines- Bombardier.
FUFA has also reserved 30 seats on the Bombardier for fans willing to travel for the match in Ouagadougou at a cost of $1500 per ticket,”Decholas Kiiza added.
Full squad named
Goalkeepers:
Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Odongkara (Horoya AC, Guinea), Charles Lukwago (KCCA, Uganda)
Defenders:
Ronald Mukiibi (Ostersunds FK, Sweden), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam, Tanzania), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell, Scotland), Murushid Jjuuko (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco), Timothy Denis Awany (Sport Club Ironi Ashdod, Israel), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, Democratic Republic of Congo)
Midfielders:
Michael Azira (Chicago Fire, USA), Khalid Aucho (Misr Lel Makasa, Egypt), Tadeo Lwanga (Tanta, Egypt), Nicholas Kasozi (KCCA, Uganda), Allan Okello (KCCA, Uganda), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt)
Forwards:
Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Patrick Henry Kaddu (RS Berkane, Morocco), Alexis Bbakka (Carlstad United BK, Sweden), Fahad Bayo (Vipers, Uganda), Farouk Miya (Konyaspor, Turkey), Abdu Lumala (Pyramids, Egypt), William Kizito Luwagga (Shakhter Karaganda, Kazahstan)
