Ten from Gabon that will miss Egypt 2019

KAMPALA- As Uganda Cranes make their second successive Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals, you will notice something peculiar about the actors on the pitch in Egypt.
Almost half, 10 to be precise, of the 23-man squad that represented the country at Gabon 2017 will not be there.
As the tournament gets underway next weekend, let’s run through the hits and misses.

Gabon finalists missing in Egypt

Geoffrey Kizito (Sai Gon, Vietnam)
The Sai Gon midfielder was one of the reliable players in the 2017 Afcon fairytale. But he has since fallen down the pecking order. He has dropped way off the mark he was not even provisionally named in the squad.

Isaac Isinde (Kirinya-Jinja)
Inside’s first Afcon finals will inevitably be remembered for that impediment on Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, which led to Andre Ayew’s winner from the spot. He has not been involved with the senior team since, only recently appearing at Cosafa in South Africa.

Tony Mawejje (KF Tirana, Albania)
One of Uganda’s best midfielders, Mawejje joined Albanian side Tirana after the finals in Gabon and has since put in tens of matches with a number of assists and couple of goals. But his display has not been good enough to turn coach Sebastien Desabre’s head.

Sentamu Junior Yunus (KF Tirana, Albania)
His five goals and four assists in 21 league matches for his club did not sway Desabre. The above stats notwithstanding, Sentamu has not recovered from the blistering international introduction at the 2014 Chan finals in South Africa. Arguably one of Uganda’s most potent out-and-out strikers, his hot and cold career so far can hardly be talked of in glowing terms.

Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Napsters, Zambia)
Now playing his club football at Zambian side Napsters after Buildcon, Sserunkuma must have played his first and last Afcon finals in Gabon - then still a KCCA player. He might not be in Egypt for this edition, but it will be remembered that the veteran striker scored Uganda’s winner as the Cranes started the campaign in Cape Verde that finally delivered the second successive Afcon finals.
Geoffrey Massa (retired)

The former Cranes captain might have split opinion during his playing days, but Massa - who retired after the finals in Gabon - remains one of the country’s great servants. His 22 goals have him up there as the country’s top marksman. He will go down in history for captaining Uganda out of a four-decade Afcon qualification misery.

Denis Iguma (Kazma, Kuwait)
The defender-cum midfielder was in Gabon for his first Afcon finals and was very instrumental in the qualifiers for this year’s edition. He was shoe-in to make the final 23 to Egypt but a knee injury early this year, which needed an operation, ruled him out.
Moses Oloya (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Oloya must by now have aquired Vietnamese citizenship. The Ugandan midfielder has been in Vietnam since 2011, only having a brief stint at Russian club Kuban Krasnodar before returning ‘home’ at Hanoi. His good footballing days, it can be argued, are well behind him now, and his missing from Egypt contingent is not surprising.

Muhammad Shaban (Raja Casablanca, Morocco)
Just like Sentamu, Shaban is that striker that broke out like wild fire. Both strikers are also temperamental. Shaban has struggled to set Raja on fire since his move from KCCA last year. He was taken to Gabon as a wonderkid and this would have been that edition to fully come to life.

Shafik Batambuze (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
The Gor Mahia defender was one of the surprise inclusions in the Gabon 2017 squad. He has not done enough to attract Desabre this time.

Returning Cranes players
Denis Onyango (18), Jamal Salim Magoola (19), Robert Odongkara (1), Murushid Jjuuko (4), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (16), Wakiro Nico Wadada (14), Joseph Benson Ochaya (2), Timothy Denis Awany (3), Godfrey Walusimbi (15), William Kizito Luwagga (10), Khalid Aucho (8), Mike Azira (23), Faruku Miya (17)

Cranes Afcon debutants
Bevis Mugabi (5), Isaac Muleme (20), Ronald Mukiibi (12), Tadeo Lwanga (6), Allan Kateregga (13), Lumala Abdu (22), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (7), Patrick Henry Kaddu (9), Derrick Nsibambi (11) and Allan Kyambadde (21)

On standby (potential debutant)
Sadam Juma
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