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Uganda names squad for Afcon qualifier against Botswana

Xinhua, May 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Head coach of Uganda's national football team, Milutin Sredojevic has named a squad that will face Botswana in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.

The Serbian born coach named the team on Wednesday insisting that the away game is crucial in Uganda's attempt to qualify for the tournament to take place in Gabon.

"We have selected players who we are sure will fight for the nation. The team will pitch camp and train in Zimbabwe before heading to Botswana," he said.

The Uganda Cranes will face Zimbabwe in an international friendly on May 31 before heading to face Botswana on June 4.

Sredojevic named 21-year-old Germany based Lorenzen Melvin on the squad for the first time. The attacker who features for Germany Bundesliga side Werder Bremen has never played for Germany where he was born, but has accepted to feature for Uganda since he is born to Ugandan parents.

Iraq based midfielder Hassan Wasswa Mawanda who features for Al Shorta has also been named on the team together with Mike Azira who plies his trade in the US with Colorado Rapids.

The Cranes are second in Group D with seven points just like Burkina Faso who have a better head to head since they beat Uganda 1-0.

Following is the squad:

Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyanyo (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Robert Ondongkara (St George, Ethiopia) and Salim Jamal Magola (El Merriekh, Sudan)

Defenders: Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Al Shorta, Iraq), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda)

Midfielders: Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids), Moses Oloya (Becamex Binh Duong, Vietnam), Aucho Khalid (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Tonny Mawejje (Thottur, Iceland), William Kizito Luwagga (Feirense, Portugal), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Strikers: Farouk Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Davis Kasirye (Rayon Sports, Rwanda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda), Geofrey Massa (Bloemfontein Celtics, South Africa), Emmanuel Okwi (Sondyerske, Denmark), Lorenzen Melvyn (Werder Bremen, Germany). Endit