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Head coach Multin Micho Sredejovic named his 23-man squad, with Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwii one of the notable absentees with the forward struggling with an injury.
The Uganda Cranes are off to Morocco on Saturday for their do-or-die 2023 AFCON qualifier against Niger on Thursday next week.
Head coach Multin Micho Sredejovic named his 23-man squad, with Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwii one of the notable absentees with the forward struggling with an injury.
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08:43 - 02.09.2023
AFCON 2023Q Lukwago dropped, Kasule, Ssebuufu in for Niger Clash
Uganda Cranes' head coach, Milutin Sredojevic, has unveiled the final squad set to journey to Morocco for the highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Niger on Thursday.
Okwi's absence means the team will have to be captained by another player, and assistant captain Khalid Aucho is expected to wear the armband on Thursday.
The combative midfielder deputised Okwii and captained the side against Algeria in Douala, Cameroon, and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, when Okwii was substituted on both occasions.
Also missing out on the squad are goalkeeper Charles Lukwago, centre-back Gift Fred, midfielders Travis Mutyaba and Siraje Ssentamu.
New URA FC signing Laban Tibita earns his first senior team call while returnees Elvis Bomwono, Bevis Mugabi, Taddeo Lwanga and Musa Ramathan make the squad.
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07:17 - 31.08.2023
STARS ABROAD Khalid Aucho opens up on Young African's form
Yanga have started the season on fire, scoring 15 goals in just their last three games across all competitions.
Okwii's absence means the goal-scoring burden will shift to Mato Rogers alongside Bayo Fahad, Richard Basangwa and Frank Ssebuufu, who also earns his first senior Cranes call-up.
Most foreign-based players are expected to link up with the squad in Marrakesh, where they'll train for three days as a group (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) before facing Niger on Thursday.
The Uganda Cranes, pooled in Group F, sit third on the log with four points, three adrift of second-placed Tanzania, who will face Algeria on the final match day.
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Micho's charges, who have had two build-up friendlies, drawing one and winning one against SC Villa and Wakiso Giants, respectively, must win the qualifier and hope that Tanzania lose to Algeria to stand a chance of qualifying.
The Cranes are hoping to qualify for an eighth AFCON appearance, and their first since 2019, when they reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1978.
Niger will host the Cranes at the Grand Stadium of Marrakesh in Morocco.
Uganda Cranes travelling squad: Goalkeepers: Ismail Watenga, Salim Omar Magoola, Nafian Alionzi
Defenders: Kenneth Semakula, Elvis Bwomono, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Isaac Muleme, Halidi Lwaliwa, Bevis Mugabi, Musa Ramathan, Joseph Ochaya
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Taddeo Lwanga, Milton Karisa, Laban Tibiita, Faruku Miya, Ibrahim Kasule, Moses Waiswa
Forwards: Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Richard Bassangwa, Frank Ssebufu
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