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Uganda names squad to face Botswana in 2017 Afcon qualifier

Xinhua, June 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The head coach of Uganda's national football team on Sunday named the squad that will face Botswana in a June 13 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.

Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic told Xinhua in an interview that the squad will first face Gambia on Tuesday in a buildup game.

The Uganda Cranes who last qualified for the Afcon competition in 1978 will host the Botswana Zebras in their first Afcon qualifier on June 13 at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

South African based professionals Geoffrey Massa, Boban Zirintusa and goalkeeper Dannis Onyango are also part of the squad, while skipper Andrew Mwesigwa is missing because of a two-match suspension after getting red carded during the last game against Guinea in the 2015 Afcon qualifier last November.

Massa, who will stand in as captain told Xinhua that they will have to take the two games against Gambia and Botswana very seriously because they mean a lot for motivational purposes.

"It will be good to start with a win against the Botswana Zebras because it' s good to start such a campaign with victory," said Massa, who recently moved from University of Pretoria FC to Bloemfontein Celtic FC.

The other top players who have not been summoned to the Cranes team include; Tonny Mawejje who has been without a team since his contract with a club in Iceland was not renewed, Moses Oloya, Geoffrey Baba Kizito (Vietnam) and Emmanuel Okwi (Tanzania).

The sqaud includes the following, Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango, Robert Odongkara, James Alitho

Defender: Isaac Isinde, Denis Iguma, Alex Kakuba, Denis Okot, Brian Ochwo, Richard Kasagga, Shafiq Bakaki, Hassan Wasswa

Midfeilders: Derrick Tekkwo, Khalid Aucho, Boban Zirintusa, Yasser Mugerwa, Kezironi Kizito, Farouk Miya, Saidi Kyeyune, William Luwagga Kizito, Godfrey Walusimbi and Brian Majwega. Strikers: Geoffrey Massa, Robert Ssentongo, Brian Umony, Yunus Sentamu, John Semazzi. Endi