The Uganda Cranes team arrived in Egypt yesterday ahead of their return leg fixture of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against the Pharaohs.
In an interview with FUFA after arrival, interim coach Moses Basena expressed confidence in his charges, and said the team was ready for the task.
“We picked up a good result against Egypt. We need to build on that on Tuesday. It is this group that will do the job and I believe you know the reasons why we are here,” Basena said.
The team held its first training session for one and half hours at the football pitch owned by the Radisson Blue Hotel Management and will train from the Borg El Arab stadium, the venue for Tuesday’s match on Monday evening.
Emmanuel Okwi’s goal helped Cranes secure a crucial victory over the Pharaohs of Egypt in the first leg in a race for a spot in next year’s World Cup that will be held in Russia.
Uganda leads Group E with 7 points, Egypt remain 2nd with 6 points while Ghana and Congo who settled for a 1-1 draw, are 3rd and 4th with 2 points and 1 point respectively.
Meanwhile, Egypt captain and goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary has been eliminated from team to face Uganda in the crucial clash on Tuesday due to the injury he picked up at Namboole stadium.
34-year-old South African Victor Gomes will be the centre referee in tomorrow’s match.
The match will be played at Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria at 8:45 pm Ugandan time.
The Uganda team in Egypt:
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango, Ismail Watenga, Benjamin Ochan
Outfield players: Nico Wakiro Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Isaac Isinde, Murushid Juuko, Wasswa Hassan Mawanda, Khalid Aucho, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Faruku Miya, Derrick Nsibambi, Joseph Benson Ochaya, Bernard Muwanga, Ivan Ntege, Muzamiru Mutyaba, William Luwagga Kizito, Milton Karisa, Isaac Muleme and Geoffrey Serunkuma
2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Russia
Egypt vs Uganda
Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria
