Uganda Cranes head coach, Jonathan McKinstry has today summoned a squad of 20 foreign based players to start preparations for the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifier games against neighbours, South Sudan.
The squad named at the FUFA House in Mengo also comprises of five local based players who will be added to the AFCON squad from the current CHAN training camp.
Among the summoned player is goalkeeper Salim Jamal Magoola who has bounces back to feature in the National team colours.
Jamal fell was involved in social media spat with MP Odongo Otto following a sit-down strike by the Cranes in 2019 AFCON and was ordered to appear before the FUFA’s Disciplinary Committee in July last year.
The squad also contains three players that have earned their maiden call ups to the National team in Elvis Okello Bwomono (South End FC, England), Jayden Onen (Brentford England) and Karl Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu who play for Heart of Midlothian based in Scotland.
Karl Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu is a Ugandan born living in Harrow, London. He was born 28th February 1995 and currently plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership Club Heart of Midlothian.
He is a former Reading Academy graduate who also played for clubs like Watford, Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Blackpool and Cambridge United in England before signing with Heart of Midlothian in April 2018.
Unlike the previous call ups, strikers Farouk Miya and Patrick Henry Kaddu have been left out.
Miya has been injured since January with a musular strain while Kaddu has rarely hard game time since he joined Ismaily SC from RS Berkane in January this year.
Uganda will play a double header against South Sudan with the first leg slated for 28th March 2020 at Mandela National Stadium.
Three days after, Uganda travel to South Sudan for the return leg at El- Hilal stadium in Khartoum.
Uganda is in group C alongside Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Malawi.
The 20-man Squad
Goalkeepers
Dennis Masinde Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Salim Jamal Magoola (Al Hilal, Sudan)
Defenders
Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam FC, Tanzania), Elvis Okello Bwomono(South End, England), Joseph Benson Ochaya (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Ronald Mukiibi( Östersunds FK Sweden) , Timothy Awany ( F.C. Ashdod, Israel), Brevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC, Scotland).
Midfielders
Mike Azira(Chicago Fire, US) , Jayden Onen (Brentford B, England), Taddeo Lwanga(Tanta FC, Egypt), Aucho Khalid ( Misr Lel Makkasa SC), Allan Okello (Paradou AC, Algeria), Moses Waiswa (Super Sport United FC, South Africa)
Forwards
Emmanuel Arnold Okwi(Al Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Abdu Lumala (Pyramids FC, Egypt), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt), Alexis Bakka (UMEA FC), Sweden, Karl Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu(Heart of Midlothian FC)
Appointed Match Officials
Saturday, 28th March 2020 (1600HRS)
Uganda Cranes Vs South Sudan – Namboole
Centre Referee: Messie Jessie Oved (Congo Brazzaville)
1st Assistant Referee: Styven Danek Moyo (Congo Brazzaville)
2nd Assistant Referee: Jospin Luckner Malonga (Central African Republic)
Fourth Referee: Lazard Tsiba Kamba (Congo Brazzaville)
Match Commissioner: Khalid Abdallah (Tanzania)
Referees’ Assessor: Michel Gasingwa (Rwanda)
Second Leg | Tuesday, 31st March 2020, (1800HRS)
South Sudan vs Uganda – El- Hilal Stadium, Khartoum
Centre Referee: Louis Hougnandande (Benin)
1st Assistant Referee: Gbemassiandan Narcisse Kouton (Benin)
2nd Assistant Referee: Eric Ayimavo Ayamr Ulrich (Benin)
Fourth Official: Adissa Raphiou Ligali (Benin)
Match Commissioner: Amir Abdi Hassan (Somalia)