When he walked into the Uganda Cranes’ camp last January, new gaffer Desabre Sebastien worked mainly with home-based players.
That is pretty understandable because then, the country was preparing for a fourth successive appearance at the Africa Nations Championships (Chan) - a competition for only native players from different leagues.
After Chan, Uganda would have been preparing for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away at Tanzania this weekend.
But when CAF opted to move AFCON from January to mid-year, starting next year, now the qualification dates were adjusted.
It turns out Uganda will still honour the international break with two friendlies against Sao Tome and Principe on Saturday, three days before facing Malawi at Namboole.
Frenchman Desabre is now using the chance to assess most of the foreign-based players before Uganda meets Tanzania in September.
Only five home-based players were included in the squad including a surprise pick in Abraham Ndugwa from Masavu. The others are Vipers’ trio of Nico Wadada, Taddeo Lwanga and Milton Karisa and KCCA’s Derrick Nsibambi and Timothy Awany.
But of the foreign lot, there are many returnees including goalkeeper Salim Jamal who was last summoned in December 2016 for AFCON duty in Gabon.
Striker Yunus Sentamu has maintained good form with his club KF Tirana in Albania as well as Emmanuel Okwi at Simba in Tanzania.
Like Ndugwa and defender Bevis Mugabi of England’s Yeovil Town, Zambia-based pair Fahad Bayo and Hood Kaweesa are in line for competitive debuts.
Sao Tome has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in seven attempts and it is 101 places behind 78th-placed Uganda in the Fifa rankings.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCHES
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
Uganda vs. Sao Tome & Principe, 4pm
TUESDAY, MARCH 25
Uganda vs. Malawi, 4:30pm
CRANES SQUAD:
Denis Onyango, Robert Odongkara, Salim Jamal, Nico Wadada, Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Joseph Ochaya, Bevis Mugabi, Murushid Jjuuko, Isaac Isinde, Timothy Awany, Hassan Wasswa, Taddeo Lwanga, Abraham Ndugwa, Milton Karisa, Emmanuel Okwi, Yunus Sentamu, Hood Kawesa, Fahad Bayo, Derrick Nsibambi, Alex Kakuba, Geofrey Kizito, William Kizito
