Nigeria game provides chance for fresher legs

Kampala. Uganda Cranes players and coaching staff have hardly taken time off to take in their feat of qualifying for the 2019 Afcon finals.
The Cranes 1-0 victory to complete a double over Cape Verde on Saturday ensured Uganda, for the first time in round robin history, qualified for Afcon with a match to spare.
Now even before dust settles, Desabre’s men, who flew to Nigeria on Sunday morning, are in action again tonight - this time against the Super Eagles in an international friendly.

The last time Uganda faced Nigeria three years ago it ended 1-0 in favour of the Cranes in Uyo; Faruku Miya scoring the only goal of the match.
Miya will rest out this one and the Croatia based forward, who has scored three goals in the qualifiers so far, did not travel with the team.
Actually, eight of the 18-man Cranes squad players coach Sebastien Desabre took to Nigeria for today’s friendly did not play any minute versus Cape Verde at the weekend.

This provides them an opportunity to show the Frenchman what they can offer as the window for inclusion is still very much open ahead of the final Afcon qualifier away to Tanzania and the finals in Cameroon.
“There are so many talented players in Uganda and a good number of them in the U-23 and U-20 teams doing good work,” Desabre said of the wide pool of players he has at his disposal for friendlies, Tanzania and Cameroon finals.

Goalkeepers Salim Jamal and Charles Lukwago, Isaac Isinde, Taddeo Lwanga, Ibrahim Sadam Juma, Milton Karisa, Allan Kateregga and Derrick Nsibambi were all not used on Saturday. Timothy Awany and Allan Kyambadde were second half substitutes. The duo and the aforementioned lot all have a chance to make a statement in Nigeria. Uganda were invited by the hosts for a friendly as part of the official opening of a new stadium named after Nigeria’s legendary player and coach Stephen Keshi (RIP)
“That stadium (the Stephen Keshi Stadium) is wonderful and the Super Eagles will beat Uganda in their friendly match, even as we know that the Ugandan team has also qualified for Afcon,” assured Nigeria FA president Amaju Pinnick.

Cranes probable XI vs Nigeria:
Salim Jamal, Nico Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa, Timothy Away, Khalid Aucho, Denis Iguma, Moses Waiswa, Allan Kateregga, Allan Kyambadde, Patrick Kaddu,
Substitutes: Charles Lukwago, Isaac Muleme, Isaac Isinde, Taddeo Lwanga, Ibrahim Sadam Juma, Milton Karisa, Derrick Nsibambi.

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