Cranes seek perfection ahead of Afcon showdown

The expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals to 24 from 16 inevitably gathered more attention from the continent and the rest of the world.
 
Uganda is one of the East African nations set to showcase its mojo when the 2019 kicks off in Egypt.
 
But before the June 21 - July 19 tournament, Cranes’ coach Desabre Sebastien is keen on fine-tuning his side before they encounter hosts Egypt, DR Congo and Zimbabwe in Group A.
 
And as the days tick off fast to the showpiece, Fufa and Desabre unleashed a long preparation program for the Cranes before they set foot in the land of the Pharoahs.


 
Frenchman Desabre early this week announced a preliminary squad that will gear for the preparations in separate batches.
 
The best local-based players are set to represent as an invited side at the Cosafa Cup where they meet Lesotho in the quarterfinals of the showpiece in South Africa from May 25 - June 8. Here, Express’ John Revita and Michael Birungi are part.
 
Now from this lot, the best could be selected and added to another batch of professional players who will head to UAE for a camp later next month.
 
It is from here that Desabre and team will descend to Egypt for the Cranes’ seventh Afcon appearance in history with the first game against neighbours DR Congo in Cairo on June 22.


 
Two years ago as Uganda returned to the Afcon for the first time since 1978, then coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic as well conducted a Cranes camp in Dubai before the team headed to Gabon.
 
Even if the Cranes did not make it out of the tough group that had Ghana, Egypt and Mali, Micho said the team was able to play well because of their high levels of fitness.
 
The plan is similar. “I am very confident that by the time we leave for Egypt, we shall all be top level both physically and mentally,” Cranes assistant captain Hassan Wasswa told the press.
 

 

2019 COSAFA CUP

Dates: May 25 - June 8
Host country: South Africa (Durban)
 
GROUPS

A: Angola, eSwatini, Comoros, Mauritius
B: Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Seychelles
 
QUARTER FINALS

Lesotho vs. Uganda
Zimbabwe vs. Group A Winner
South Africa vs. Botswana
Zambia vs. Winner B
*Top ranked countries start from quarterfinals*
 

 

2019 TOTAL AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

 
GROUPS 

A: Egypt (Hosts), DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe 
B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania 
D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola 
F: Cameroon (Holders), Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
 

CRANES’ FIXTURES

June 22: Uganda vs DR Congo, Cairo
June 26: Uganda vs Zimbabwe, Cairo
June 30: Egypt vs. Uganda, Cairo
 

AFCON PRELIMINARY SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago, James Alitho
Defenders: Bevis Mugabi, Brian Majwega, Godfrey Walusimbi, Timothy Awany, Halid Lwaliwa, Mustafa Mujuzi
Midfielders:  Khalid Aucho, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda , Sadam Juma, Tadeo Lwanga, Allan Okello, Moses Waiswa
Forwards: Daniel Isiagi, Allan Kyambadde, Juma Balinya, Patrick Kaddu, Joel Madondo
 

COSAFA SQUAD

Goalkeeper: Said Keni
Defenders:  Isaac Isinde, Paul Willa, Mustafa Kizza, John Revita, Paul Mbowa, Hassan Musana, Filibert Obenchan
Midfielders: Ivan Eyam, David Owori, Bright Anukani, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Shafiq Kagimu, Nicholas Kasozi, Allan Kayiwa.
Forwards: Daniel Serunkuma, Bashir Mutanda, Paul Mucuurezi, Nelson Senkatuka, Michael Birungi
 
This writer is a global broadcaster and as well scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune
 

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