Tusker FC full back Batambuze Shafiq is among Uganda’s provisional squad of 40 to start preparations for the AFCON 2017.
Even though he was absent throughout the qualifiers, the prodigy, who has enjoyed a splendid year – winning the Kenyan premier league with the brewers, now have an opportunity of a life time to represent his motherland at the biggest continatal stage.
He landed maiden senior cap against Zambia early this month, in a warm-up Uganda used to prepare Congo Brazzaville in Russia 2018 qualifiers.
“We have announced a squad of 40 players 5 goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 15 midfielders and 8 strikers who will compete for the places final 23 places. The final group that will represent Uganda after 39 years of absence from the AFCON Finals,” Milutin ‘Micho’Sredojevic, the Uganda “Cranes” head coach announced Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
The Serbian pointed out that the 40 stand equal chance of flying the national flag in Gabon, “We selected a blend of experience and youth who are the future of Ugandan football where. No body will be gifted and awarded place as from now on the counter is on zero where all 40 players are in healthy competition to earn and deserve to be in the final 23.”
The Full Squad:
Goal Keepers: ONYANGO DENIS, ODONGKARA ROBERT, JAMAL SALIM, WATENGA ISMA, OCHAN BENJAMIN
Defenders: IGUMA DENIS, NSUBUGA JOSEPH, WADADA NICHOLAS, OCHAYA JOSEPH, BATAMBUZE SHAFIQ, ISINDE ISAAC, JUUKO MURUSHID, MUKIIBI RONALD, AWANYI TIMOTHY, KASSAGA RICHARD, LWALIWA KHALID, TOHA RASHID
Midfielders: AUCHO KHALID, MAWEJJE TONY, WASWA HASSAN, AZIRA MIKE, KIZITO GEOFFREY, KIZITO KEZIRON, MUTYABA MUZAMIL, MUGERWA YASSAR, SADAM JUMA, OLOYA MOSES, KIZITO LUWAGA WILIAM, WALUSIMBI GODFREY, MUCUREZI PAUL, KIIZA MARTIN, VITALIS TABU
Strikers: MIYA FARUKU, MASSA GEOFFREY, SERUNKUMA GEOFREY, SHABAN MOHAMED, SENTAMU YUNUS, NSIBAMBI DERRICK, LUBEGA EDRISA, SEKISAMBU ERISA
