Uganda Hippos (U20) interim head coach Jackson Mayanja has named his final 24-man squad to travel to Sudan for the CECAFA AFCON U20 Zonal Qualifiers.
The Uganda Hippos, who will compete in the tournament from October 28th to November 11th, 2022, flew out of the country on Ethiopian Airlines on Wednesday morning.
Only three players from the 2021 Hippos squad, which reached the AFCON U20 finals in Mauritania, have made the trip, including captain Isma Mugulusi, Wabyoona Faisal, and goalkeeper Ssenyondwa Denis.
“We almost have a new team from that of Morley Byekwaso that reached the AFCON U20 finals,” Coach Mayanja stated.
“We have just built a new team and we hope to do better. If the boys exhibit their good show that they showed in friendlies against KCCA and Maroons, I can assure you that we will go very far in this tournament,” he added
The Uganda Hippos, who spent 13 days in a residential camp at the Cranes Paradise hotel in Kisaasi, are grouped with Tanzania and Ethiopia in Group B.
They will play Tanzania on Saturday, October 29, at Al Hilal Stadium to begin their title defense. They will then take a six-day break before playing Ethiopia on November 5, also at Al Hilal Stadium.
The winner of group A will compete against group B’s runners-up and vice versa.
The full squad
Goalkeepers
Abdu Magada-Gaddafi FC,
Kamya Shamulan-Bright Stars FC,
Ssenyondwa Denis Kaala- URA FC
Defenders
Opiru Justine-URA FC, Ibrahim Juma- FC Leganes, Samson Kasozi-UPDF FC, Ronald Madoi- Wakiso Giants FC
Mukisa Simon- UPDF FC, Ssemayange Simon Kato-Bright Stars FC
Lukwago Haruna -KCCA FC, Rogers Torach- Vipers SC
Midfielders
Allan Kiggundu- BUL FC
Katongole Frank-St Mary’s Kitende
Mugulusi Isma- Makedonikos FC, Greece
Nyanzi Marvin- Wakiso Giants FC
Wabyoona Faisal- KCCA FC,
Thomas Kakaire- Mbarara City FC
Bugembe Issa- Bright Stars
Titus Ssematimba- Wakiso Giants FC
Forwards
Umar Lutalo- SC Villa
Muhammad Nsereko- SC Villa
Kasinde Ibrahim- Bright Stars FC
Kyeyune Abbas- UPDF FC
Mugisha Rogers-UPDF FC
