Lumala, Bakka out of Cranes-Malawi clash

Lumala did not return with the Cranes on Thursday.

PHOTOS: J. BATANUDDE

Abdu Lumala impressed fans with his performance as the Cranes reached the round of 16 stage at the Africa Cup Nations earlier this year. The tournament marked the forward’s Cranes competitive debut having first been called up to for the training camp in Abu Dhabi by then Cranes coach Sebastian Desabre in the lead up to the tournament.
With the now Egyptian-based attacker’s latest Cranes engagements all coming away from home, domestic fans have not had a glimpse of the Pyramids player at the Mandela National Stadium.
They may now have to wait a little longer to watch him in flesh after he and Sweden-based striker Alexis Bakka did not return with the Cranes team that touched down at Entebbe yesterday morning from Burkina Faso.

Not on board
There was no communication by press time from domestic football governing body Fufa about their status but with the Cranes traveling aboard a Uganda Airlines chartered flight it appears unlikely they will arrive in time for the game. Lumala played the full 90 minutes as the Cranes played out a goalless draw away to Burkina Faso while Alexis Bakka who was making his competitive debut for the Cranes featured as a late substitute. Lumala joined Egyptian side Pyramids from Sweden where he last played for Kalmar FF while Bakka, who like the former moved to the Scandinavian country as a child, features for Carlstad United BK.