KCCA defender Timothy Awany will captain the Uganda Cranes team during their African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier first leg against Somalia, scheduled for July 27 in Djibouti.
The development was confirmed by interim head coach Abdallah Mubiru as he revealed the final 18-man squad that will travel to Djibouti. Vipers SC midfielder Taddeo Lwanga is assistant captain with goal keeper Charles Lukwago named second assistant.
Awany is one of the senior players who are part of the team, and together with Lwanga represented the country at this year’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt. Midfielder Allan Kyambadde and striker Patrick Henry Kaddu are the other local based players on the team who played at the AFCON.
The bulk of the players that played at the COSAFA tournament earlier in Durban, South Africa have been retained for the Somalia game, including defenders John Revita, Paul Willa, Mustafa Kiizza goalkeepers Lukwago and James Alitho as well as midfielder Allan Kayiwa.
URA FC midfielder Shafik Kagimu recovered on time from a knock to make the final squad together with striker Dan ‘Muzeeyi’ Sserunkuuma also part of the squad.
Tom Masiko, who has been out of the national team fold for the past two years features on the traveling squad.
However, striker Nelson Senkatuka will again have to await on when his chance will finally arrive after being shunned yet again at the final hour. Wakiso Giants goal keeper Yasin Mugabi who started in goal during the ‘Cranes na Mutima’ build up game did not make the team as well.
The others are, Express FC left back Disan Galiwango, Proline FC’s attacking midfielder Bright Anukani, former Paidha Black angels midfielder Yusuf Ssozzi and former SC Villa right back Ashiraf Mandela.
Mubiru had earlier on Tuesday trimmed the squad by seven members to 23 players before dropping Nicolas Kasozi, Johnson Odong, Saidi keni, Joel Mutakubwa, Kigozi Samson, Filbert obenchan and David Owori.
The traveling 18-man squad to Djibouti
Goalkeepers: Lukwago Charles (KCCA FC), Alitho James (URA FC)
Defenders: Willa Paul (Vipers SC), Mustafa Mujuzi (Proline FC), Kizza Mustafa (KCCA FC), Revita John (Express FC), Awany Timothy (KCCA FC), Mbowa Paul (URA FC)
Midfielders: Taddeo Lwanga (Vipers SC), Mutyaba Muzamir (KCCA FC), Masiko Tom (Vipers SC), Kagimu Shafiq (URA FC), Kayiwa Allan (Vipers SC), Okello Allan (KCCA FC), Kyambadde Allan (KCCA FC), Sadam Juma (KCCA FC)
Strikers: Kaddu Patrick (KCCA FC), Sserunkuma Daniel (Vipers SC)
