Khalid Aucho set to captain Uganda Cranes against Niger

Aucho training with the Cranes in Douala, Cameroon. (FUFA Media).

AFCON23Q Khalid Aucho set to captain Uganda Cranes against Niger

Peter Tabu • 14:29 - 02.09.2023

Head coach Multin Micho Sredejovic named his 23-man squad, with Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwii one of the notable absentees with the forward struggling with an injury.

The Uganda Cranes are off to Morocco on Saturday for their do-or-die 2023 AFCON qualifier against Niger on Thursday next week.

Head coach Multin Micho Sredejovic named his 23-man squad, with Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwii one of the notable absentees with the forward struggling with an injury.

Okwi's absence means the team will have to be captained by another player, and assistant captain Khalid Aucho is expected to wear the armband on Thursday.

The combative midfielder deputised Okwii and captained the side against Algeria in Douala, Cameroon, and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, when Okwii was substituted on both occasions.

Also missing out on the squad are goalkeeper Charles Lukwago, centre-back Gift Fred, midfielders Travis Mutyaba and Siraje Ssentamu.

New URA FC signing Laban Tibita earns his first senior team call while returnees Elvis Bomwono, Bevis Mugabi, Taddeo Lwanga and Musa Ramathan make the squad.

Okwii's absence means the goal-scoring burden will shift to Mato Rogers alongside Bayo Fahad, Richard Basangwa and Frank Ssebuufu, who also earns his first senior Cranes call-up.

Most foreign-based players are expected to link up with the squad in Marrakesh, where they'll train for three days as a group (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) before facing Niger on Thursday.

The Uganda Cranes, pooled in Group F, sit third on the log with four points, three adrift of second-placed Tanzania, who will face Algeria on the final match day.

Cranes squad in a photo moment against Algeria. (FUFA Media).

Micho's charges, who have had two build-up friendlies, drawing one and winning one against SC Villa and Wakiso Giants, respectively, must win the qualifier and hope that Tanzania lose to Algeria to stand a chance of qualifying.

The Cranes are hoping to qualify for an eighth AFCON appearance, and their first since 2019, when they reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1978.

Niger will host the Cranes at the Grand Stadium of Marrakesh in Morocco.

Uganda Cranes travelling squad: Goalkeepers: Ismail Watenga, Salim Omar Magoola, Nafian Alionzi 

Defenders: Kenneth Semakula, Elvis Bwomono, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Isaac Muleme, Halidi Lwaliwa, Bevis Mugabi, Musa Ramathan, Joseph Ochaya 

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Taddeo Lwanga, Milton Karisa, Laban Tibiita, Faruku Miya, Ibrahim Kasule, Moses Waiswa 

Forwards: Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Richard Bassangwa, Frank Ssebufu

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