Niger vs Uganda: Micho banking on old guards to deliver AFCON berth, resorts to remote coaching

Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda grabs the ball to deny Uganda Cranes defender Bevis Mugabi a chance to head during the first leg of their 2023 AFCON qualifier at Kitende.

AFCON 2023 Q Niger vs Uganda: Micho banking on old guards to deliver AFCON berth, resorts to remote coaching

Fred Mwambu • 07:34 - 16.08.2023

Algeria, who have already qualified, lead Group F of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with 15 points, Tanzania follows with seven, while Uganda sits third with only four.

Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is hoping that the senior players who have returned to the Uganda Cranes after recovering from their respective injuries will boost the team ahead of their do-or-die 2023 AFCON qualifier match day six duel With Niger.

The Group F fixture will be played on September 7th at the Grand Stade Marrakech in Morocco.

Uganda needs a win against the already eliminated Niger but will also pray that Algeria beat Tanzania by a big margin.

Micho has recalled a number of old guards, including Bevis Mugabi, Isaac Muleme, and Joseph Ochaya, all of who missed the match day five loss to Algeria due to injuries.

He is happy to welcome them back and has confidence they will perform.

“I’m happy that since [the last game in] June, Bevis Mugabi is back after a long injury lay-off; We also have Awany, Muleme and Ochaya back from injury,” Micho said after revealing his squad on Monday.

Distance coaching

He believes the squad of 33 players summoned to the team is the best that the country can offer at the moment.

Due to the congested fixtures at club level, the Serbian says that he has devised a method to coach the players remotely ahead of the game.

“We’ve assembled the best of the best squad that Uganda has at present competitively. We’re doing forward to following them and doing distance coaching to prepare them for everything that game could bring to be able to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.

The final 23-man squad will converge in Marrakech, Morocco, between September 3rd and 4th, about three days before the match.

Uganda Cranes Provisional Squad

Uganda Cranes Lineup
ganda Cranes lineup that started against Niger in the first leg of the 2023 AFCON qualifier at Kitende Uganda Cranes lineup that started against Niger in the first leg of the 2023 AFCON qualifier at Kitende

Goalkeepers -Watenga Isima (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Magoola Salim Omar (Richards Bay FC, South Africa), Lukwago Charles (Unattached), Alionzi Nafian (Unattached), Mutakubwa Joel (BUL FC, Uganda)

Defenders - Semakula Kenneth (SC Villa, Uganda), Begisa James (URA FC, Uganda), Muleme Isaac (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Awany Timothy (SC Ashdod, Israel), Lwaliwa Halidi (FK Bregalnica Stip, North Macedonia), Gift Fred (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Mugabi Bevis (Motherwell FC, Scotland), Musa Ramathan (VFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Wasswa Geofrey (Ethiopian Buna SC, Ethiopia), Bwomono Elvis (IBV Vestamanyaer, Iceland), Kayondo Abdu Aziizi (AC Leganes, Spain)

Midfielders - Aucho Khalid (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Byaruhanga Bobosi (Austin FC, USA), Sentamu Siraje (Vipers SC, Uganda), Lwanga Taddeo (APR FC, Rwanda), Ndhondhi Moses Waiswa (KCCA FC, Uganda), Karisa Milton (Vipers SC, Uganda), Mutyaba Travis (SC Villa, Uganda), Mugulusi Isma (Feirense, Portugal), Mato Rogers (Sanliurfaspor, Turkey), Ochaya Joseph (Al Makawloon, Egypt), Miya Faruku (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Tibita Laban (URA FC, Uganda), Kasule Ibrahim (New York Red Bull II, USA)

Forwards - Okwi Emmanuel (Erbil SC, Iraq), Bayo Fahad (VFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Basangwa Richard (Wadi Degla SC, Egypt), Ssebufu Frank (New York Redbull II, USA)

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