African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2019
Group L
Cape Verde vs Uganda
Estadio Varzea 8:30pm
The jubilations and hangover about playing in the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon is finally over and another hurdle for Uganda starts afresh.
After 38 years of absence from the AFCON finals, Uganda Cranes now embark on another campaign to play at the next African Cup of Nations.
Uganda Cranes open their account in the bid to return to the continental showpiece with an away fixture against Cape Verde Island this Saturday at the Estadio de Verzea in Praia City.
Team coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has put the target straight that he wants a positive start to make sure the cranes stay on the course of qualifying for the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
“The preparations have been smooth and the build-up games we have had have helped in giving us a reflection of what we expect to put up,” he stated.
“The target ahead of us is to make sure we start the campaign on an impressive note because that will give us momentum in the next games,” Micho added.
Micho however still has concerns about the striking department as the Cranes start life without energetic forward Geoffrey Massa who retired from the national team.
The two build up games that Uganda has played ahead of the Cape Verde game ended in barren stalemates (against Ethiopia and Senegal).
The search for goals will now be bestowed upon Emmanuel Okwi whose performance on the national team has been hot and cold.
The other strikers in camp include youngsters Derrick Nsibambi, Mohammad Shaban and veteran striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma who scored against Cape Verde in 2006 at Namboole.
Without several occasional names like Luwagga Kizito, Moses Oloya, Geoffrey Kizito, Isaac Isinde, Joseph Ochaya and Dennis Iguma among others, Micho has given opportunity to new and untested blood.
Isaac Muleme, Derrick Nsibambi Bernard Muwanga and Robert Kakeeto who plies his trade at Danish side Aalborg are all part of the team.
There is perhaps worry about the preparation of the team with majority of the players arriving in Cape Verde on match day (Saturday morning).
Uganda is in group L alongside Cape Verde, Lesotho and Tanzania.
Probable starting XI
Dennis Onyango, Nicholas Wadada, Geoffrey Walusimbi, Jjuko Murushid, Timothy Awany, Hassan Wasswa, Isaac Muleme, Khalid Aucho, Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Miya Farouk, Emma Okwi