Uganda Cranes Start Early AFCON Preps

Featured Image: L-R: Dan Sserunkuma, Disan Galiwango, Allan Okello, Godfrey Walusimbi and Bevis Mugabi. FUFA photo

Uganda Cranes officially kicked off their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, May 13. This comes about seven weeks before the tournament that start on June 21 in Egypt.

The team conducted their first session on Monday at Mandela National stadium, Namboole under head coach Sebastien Desabre.

The Cranes who entered residential camp on Monday morning at Kabira Country club, arrived at Namboole at 5:10 PM before a light session that ended at 7PM.

Disan Galiwango was the debutant after his late addition to replace Maroons’ Brian Majwega. Dan Mzee Sserunkuma, as earlier reported, trained with the team after being transfered from the COSAFA team to fill Joel Madondo’s place.

“I feel delighted to train with the team,” said Galiwango, a left back with Express FC. “I am here because of hard work and today’s training has been fantastic with some of the players having faced them in the league.”

The session started with fitness coach Gerome D’Antonio testing the players’ fitness before going into ball drills that involved shooting at the two goalkeepers Charles Lukwago (KCCA) and James Alitho (URA). The latter conducted by Sebastien Desabre and his assistant Mathias Lule.

Bevis Mugabi who turns out for English side Yeovil Town was among the 19 players who trained. Daniel Isiagi and Khalid Aucho are the other foreign based players who trained with the local based players in a full house.

The 19 players in the preliminary Squad will hope to be selected for the 26 man Squad for further training in the United Arab Emirates to join the foreign-based players from which a final 23 man squad to feature in the Total AFCON Finals in Egypt will be named.

The squad to United Arab Emirates for training camp will be named on May 21st, it was confirmed by Coach Desabre during a briefing held at Kabira.

The Cranes are pitted in Group A alongside hosts Egypt, DR Congo and Zimbabwe.

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