2018 Fifa World Cup Qualifier (Group D)
Thursday, August 31, 4pm
Uganda vs Egypt – Namboole
Cranes interim coaches Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba have handed exiled stars William Luwagga Kizito and Isaac Isinde a chance to redeem their standing in the national team after naming the pair in the 27-man squad summoned for the upcoming World Cup qualifying double header against Egypt.
Romania-based Luwagga fell out with former coach Milutin Sredojevich at the Cranes Africa Nations Cup campaign in Gabon and had vowed never to play for the national team again for as long as the Serb was still at the helm. Isinde on the other hand was forced out by the same coach after his error gifted Ghana a penalty and a 1-0 win in Uganda’s opening game at the Nations Cup.
The inclusion of the pair will give Uganda experience in defence which Isinde brings, and a dose of extra creativity provided by Luwagga. Even then, Uganda faces an uphill task in what is undoubtedly the most difficult segment of its qualification campaign. After the home game against Egypt at Namboole stadium next Thursday, the Cranes travel to Alexandria for a date with the Pharaohs on September 6. These two games could ultimately define the group; as next week’s game will be a clash between first and second.
Announcing his squad yesterday, Basena called for collective effort, adding that our recent qualification for the CHAN 2018, where Uganda overcame Rwanda 3-2 on aggregate was “great preparation” for the matches against Egypt. Ticket prices are Shs30,000 (Ordinary); Shs70,000 and Shs150,000 (VIP).
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Odongkara (St George, Ethiopia), Ismail Watenga (Vipers), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA)
Defenders: Nico Wakiro Wadada (Vipers), Isaac Muleme (KCCA), Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA), Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Bernard Muwanga (SC Villa), Geofrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Dennis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Paul Musamali (KCCA), Isaac Isinde (Buildcon, Zambia)
Midfielders: Aucho Khalid (Unattached), Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Ivan Ntege (Township Rollers, Botswana), Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA), Moses Waiswa (Vipers), Shafiq Kagimu (URA), William Luwagga Kizito (CSM Politehnica Iași, Romania), Wasswa Hassan Mawanda (Njimeh, Lebanon), Joseph Ochaya (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia)
Strikers: Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA), Geofrey Sserunkuma (Buildcon, Zambia), Emmanuel Okwi (Simba, Tanzania), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium)
