By Ronnie Lusurile,
The African Cup of Nations is the biggest football tournament on the continent and to some Nations that have never made it to the FIFA World Cup it means even more.
Uganda Cranes being one of the lucky Nations in Gabon for the first time after 38years, all players are working and giving their best at their respective clubs to ensure they make the final 23 man squad to fly the national flag.
Soka25east.com brings you some of the players the Cranes, football scouts/agents and the entire African continent may surely miss watching in case they don’t make the final 23 man squad.
Savio Kabugo,
Who wouldn’t love to have such an intelligent, calm, commanding and hard working defender with experience in the caliber of Savio Kabugo in their team when going for such a tournament? The defender last featured for the Cranes in November 2014 against Guinea Konakry in Marrackech, Morocco and later was disrupted by injuries. He successfully recovered and was invited as a guest player by coach Micho when the Cranes were preparing to take on Comoros on 4th September and since then he has been over looked despite his consistent performances at Proline FC including a goal against Sadolin Paints FC in the Azam Uganda Premier League.
He will surely be missed incase he doesn’t make the final team to Gabon.
Alex Kakuba,
Despite playing in one of the top European football leagues (Portuguese Premier League) the talented left back has not failed to break through the national set up as he has not been given enough time to settle in. On a number of occasions, he has been summoned but goes on not to make the final team for his mother country. At Feirense FC, he is not a regular starter but he gets playing time and plays with one of Europe’s best week in week out.
His skills and calmness on the ball will surely be missed by football lovers.
Brian Umony,
He got injured while playing for his ST.GEORGE FC side in Ethiopia early this year and has not recovered in time to make the final squad. His goal hunting antics will surely be missed.
Brian Majwega,
The fast dribbling winger returned to his parent club KCCA FC from Tanzania but has since failed to win Coach Micho’s trust again like it was two years back. He was recently summoned for the Cranes Namutima campaign against Buganda region at Masaka recreation grounds but according to the technical committee he wasn’t impressive, even at his KCCA FC club, he is a rare starter, his pace, skills, and crossing abilities will be missed indeed.
Benjamin Ochan,
The talented goalkeeper is likely to miss on the final squad unless otherwise. With first choice custodian Denis Onyango, Robert Odongkara and Salim Jamal all available, the KCCA FC shot stopper is likely to drop out of the pecking order as the final list requires only three goalkeepers. His amazing ball distribution will be missed.
Emmanuel Okwi,
Limited playing time at his Danish side Sonderjyske FC is most likely to affect Okwi and hence not making the final squad to Gabon. Also the presence of local based sharp forwards in Muhammad Shaban, Edriisa Lubega and Derrick Nsibambi is surely a threat to the talented and silky former Simba SC and SC.Villa forward.
Mention any other player you think will be missed in case he doesn’t make the final Cranes squad to Gabon for the upcoming AFCON.
