The timing couldn’t have been better. A few hours after putting up a spirited performance for his new club Yeovil Town FC against Premier League club Everton at Goodison Park, defender Bevis Mugabi has earned his maiden call up to the Uganda national football team.
Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic on Wednesday announced Mugabi and a team of 31 other players for the two upcoming matches involving Kenya and Comoros. Cranes, who last appeared at Afcon in 1978, are tied on 10 points with Burkina Faso and can progress as either Group D winners or as best runners-up.
Mugabi who a few weeks was transferred from his childhood club Southampton FC to Yeovil, is anticipated to be a direct replacement of Lebanon based defender Dennis Iguma who has been suspended for the game for accumulating cautions.
Now at his third top club, Mugabi joined Southampton in July 2011 after being let go by Fulham, with whom he had progressed through the ranks. His form for the Under-18 side saw him named on the standby list for two England Under-17 squads.
The 21 year-old who can play at right-back or centre-back, is expected to accept the Uganda national team call up and EagleOnline understands that Cranes coach Micho has been holding extensive talks with the Mugabi and his family.
Mugabi was also named man of the match in Yeovil’s previous game, a 1-0 loss against Morecambe in their league opener.
On the provision Cranes squad, there are 16 professionals and 16 locally based players. Official training starts on Thursday at Paradise Fitness Gym, Acacia Mall.
Match day tickets for Kenya and Comoros games go officially on sale by Wednesday, 24th August 2016.
Uganda Cranes will play Kenya on Tuesday, 30th August 2016 at Nelson Mandela National Stadium in an international friendly match.
The match will be used to fine tune the squad in preparation for the crucial AFCON 2017 qualifier against Comoros.
Uganda Cranes Team summoned:
Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Salim Jamal Magoola (El Merriekh, Sudan), Benjamin Ochan (KCCA, Uganda), Ismail Watenga (Vipers, Uganda)
Defenders: Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa, Uganda), Bevis Mugabi (Yoevil Town, UK), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Al Shorta, Iraq) , Murushid Jjuuko (Simba, Tanzania), Isaac Isinde (St George, Ethiopia), Timothy Denis Awanyi (KCCA, Uganda), Rashid ‘Mertasacker’ Toha (Onduparaka, Uganda), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers, Uganda), Joseph Benson Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Godfrey ‘Jajja Walu’ Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Baroka, South Africa), Tonny Mawejje (Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, Iceland), Geofrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (Than Quảng Ninh, Vietnam), Moses Oloya (Kuban Kransndor, Russia), Kezironi Kizito (Vipers, Uganda), Ivan Ntege (KCCA, Uganda), William Luwagga Kizito (Feirense, Portgual), Vincent Kayizzi Walugembe (KCCA, Uganda), Abdulmalick Vitalis Tabu (Sports Club Villa Jogoo, Uganda)
Strikers: Geofrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa), Farouk Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Yunus Sentamu (F.C Ilves, Finnland), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (SønderjyskE, Denmark), Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda), Edrisa Lubega (Proline, Uganda), Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers, Uganda)
