• Group E Fixture | Sunday, June 18
• Uganda vs Algeria – Japoma stadium, Doula | 6:00 pm

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic, popularly known as Micho, has named the team that will start against Algeria.

The Cranes take on Algeria at Japoma stadium in double, a match that is a must-win if Uganda is to have a chance of playing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jamal Salim who has kept goal in the last two qualifier matches maintains his place between the stick.

The back four has Halid Lwaliwa pairing with Fred Gift in the heart of defence while Aziz Kayondo occupies the left back position and Kenneth Ssemakula is at right back.

In the middle of the park, experienced Khalid Aucho is joined by Bobosi Byaruhanga and Farouk Miya in the number ten role.

The search for goals will be spearheaded by Rogers Mato with skipper Emmanuel Okwi and Milton Karisa drifting off the wings.

Starting XI: Jamal Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Halid Lwaliwa, Gift Fred, Aziz Kayondo, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi (C), Rogers Mato, Milton Karisa

Substitutes: Charles Lukwago (GK), Arionzi Nafian (GK), Geoffrey Wasswa, Rogers Torach, Siraje Ssentamu, Moses Waiswa, Isma Mugulusi, Travis Mutyaba, Fahad Bayo, Richard Basangwa

Uganda Cranes take on Algeria in a must-win duel to keep their chances of qualifying for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations alive.

Algeria have already booked a place in the 2013 AFCON as they have already won four of their games in the campaign while Uganda has so far collected four points from as many games.

Uganda’s gaffer Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has highlighted the necessity of the senior players in the must-win on the menu.

“We know how crucial the game (against Algeria) is and the senior players have to create the edge we long for,” Micho told the press in a pre-match conference.

“It is also important to keep the pressure off the young players and plan on earning maximum points by working so hard by executing our game plan as a team,” he added.

With a second slot in AFCON since 2019 in sight, Uganda has to play its best game to match the arsenal tabled by coach Djamel Belmadi’s troops.

Uganda faces Algeria after falling to DRC in a practice game and according to Micho, they picked several lessons that will help them be more vigilant and attentive in the clash ahead.

In the same breath, Uganda’s skipper Emmanuel Okwi assured Ugandans of getting maximum points.

“It will not be easy but we shall fight for the three points. We know how big the game is against Algeria but we want a good result,” he noted.

Okwi asked Ugandans to support them in all ways possible from wherever they are to get them ignited for the battle.

In the first leg, Uganda suffered a 2-0 loss to Algeria in June 2022 then shared spoils with Niger in a very disappointing manner before they lost to Tanzania in Egypt.

However, the golden win against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam was so crucial to regain hopes of Uganda to make it to the continental grand stage.

Algeria has won the last three meetings between the two sides, scoring eight goals while Uganda has not seen the back of the net in any of those duels.

Uganda Premier League newbie NEC FC has announced Hussein Mbalangu their new head coach.

Mbalangu replaces Micheal Lukyamuzi aka Skills who guided the Bugolobi-based side into the top tier on their first trial or hunt.

The development was confirmed on Friday, July 16 via the club’s official social media pages.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Hussein Mbalangu as Head Coach of NEC FC,” the club statement partly read.

“Mbalangu a certified CAF A license holder joins with a vast football coaching management experience both at the local and international level having coached within and outside of the country,” it added.

“Mbalangu will be assisted by Dudu Bosco as the assistant head coach. We thank Micheal Lukyamuzi for guiding us through the last two seasons.”

Mbalangu will have an immediate assignment of ensuring the club retains a place in the UPL, unlike his former side Blacks Power which was relegated at the end of its first season in the league.

Mbalangu has also been at Arua Hill, Mbarara City, Azam FC (Tanzania) and Banadir FC (Somalia).

While his assistant Dudu joins from Big League side Calvary FC. He has also coached sides like Onduparaka, KCCA FC U17, Paidha Black Angels, Alnasir EC (South Sudan) and West Nile Province

As Uganda Cranes prepare to take Algeria in the AFCON 2023 Qualifiers, we take a look at the quick profile of the players who will be representing the country.

We take a look at forward Farouk Aziz Bayo.

Bayo’s journey into the beautiful journey kicked off in 2009 when he joined Lugazi Young Academy before joining Friends of Soccer Academy in 2011.

In 2014, he joined Proline FC a side he played for until 2018. While at Proline he scored 30 goals in 68 matches to introduce himself onto the grand stage.

His fair scoring rate at a low age attracted the Zambian side Buildcon. At the age of 18, he flew out of the borders and managed to gather nine goals and six assists in 39 games.

In 2019, he returned to Vipers SC and rejuvenated his career scoring 12 in 23 matches. The stellar show guided his move out for the second time.

On July 27, 2020, the forward later moved to Israel Premier League side, MS Ashdod before switching to Bnei Sakhnin FC in 2022.

He is currently playing for Czech Republic side MFK Vyskov.

He made his national debut in March 2018 playing both friendlies against Sao Tome and Malawi thanks to Sebastien Desabre’s call.

Player Profile

• Full Name: Fahad Aziz Bayo
• Date of Birth: 10th May 10 1998
• Place of Birth: Lugazi
• Height: 1.85 m
• Position: Forward

URA FC continues to make changes in their squad and pay forward Living Kabon is the latest decamper from the club.

The development was confirmed by the club through its official website on Friday, June 16, 2023.

“Living Kabon has parted ways with URA FC after two years of service,” the statement partly read.

“Kabon whose contract expires at the end of June will not be renewed following unsuccessful negotiations to extend it,” it adds.

Kabon left Onduparaka FC to join the Tax Collectors after a thrilling season but his stay with the club hardly met the set targets for both sides.

“Everyone at URA FC would like to thank Kabon for his services during his two years and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

In the just-concluded season, Kabon was the club’s second-leading scorer behind Ibrahim Dada with five goals and three assists.

The forward joins Ronald Kigongo and Salim Abdallah as the third player to leave the club.

As Uganda Cranes prepare to take Algeria in the AFCON 2023 Qualifiers, we look at the brief profile of the players who will be representing the country.

We take a look at goalkeeper Jamal Salim Magoola.

Jamal played club football in Uganda for Express Football Club and KCCA Football Club before heading north to Sudan where he featured for Al-Merrikh SC and Al-Hilal Club.

His club journey led him to South Africa post Covid-19 joining Pretoria Callies F.C. in 2021 before signing for his current club (Richards Bay FC) last year at the start of this past Premier Soccer League season.

Jamal played his first Uganda Cranes game on 10th July 2012 against South Sudan, the country’s first recognisable game that ended in a 2-2 draw. He has since kept goal for the Cranes in six games.

The goalkeeper was a member of the Ugandan Cranes for two African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals in 2017 in Gabon and 2019 in Egypt but did not feature in a single game.

Jamal, now the undisputed number one for Uganda Cranes, was in goal in the double-header against Tanzania in the current AFCON 2023 Qualifiers campaign.

You can follow the game between Algeria and Uganda Cranes on FUFA TV or attend the viewing party at the Old and New Taxi Park on Sunday, 18th June starting at 3:00 pm.

As the clock ticks towards the clash against Algeria in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, we continue to profile Uganda Cranes’ superstars that will be raising the country’s flag.

Here is the spotlight of Khalid Aucho’s football journey.

Aucho kickstarted his football journey at Jinja Municipal Council in 2009 where he played 34 games before he moved to Water FC in 2010.

He later crossed the borders moving to the Tanzanian side Simba SC for a short stint and later joined Kenya’s Tusker.

In 2015, he switched to Gor Mahia before travelling to South Africa to join Baroka FC but injuries limited him to play only five games before flying to Serbia.

In 2017, the hard-tackling midfielder joined Red Star Belgrade of Serbia which later loaned him to OFK Beograd but the club was relegated and he opted to leave.

In 2018, he joined East Bengal in India where he didn’t play any game hence joining Makkasa of Egypt in 2019, he spent there two seasons before switching to Young Africans where he has lived to date.

Aucho made his Uganda Cranes debut in a game against Rwanda during the 2013 CECAFA Championship while he opened his scoring account with a goal to pick maximum points in a 1-0 win against Sudan.

Though his most entertaining goal came on June 2016 through an overhead kick to help Uganda beat Botswana 2-1 during the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

He was part of the Uganda Cranes squad that qualified for the 2017 African Cup of Nations in 2016 breaking the 38-year-old jinx.

Player Profile

• Full Name: Khalid Aucho
• Date of Birth: August 8, 1993
• Place of Birth: Jinja
• Position: Midfielder
• Height: 1.85m
• Current Club: Young Africans SC

You can follow the game between Algeria and Uganda Cranes on FUFA TV or attend the viewing party at the Old and New Taxi Park on Sunday, 18th June starting at 3:00 pm.

As Uganda Cranes prepare to take Algeria in the AFCON 2023 Qualifiers, we look at the brief profile of the players who will be representing the country.

We take a look at forward Rogers Mato

Mato played for Maroons FC of the Fufa Junior’s League before joining the youth setup of Proline FC 2018 where he was later promoted to the senior side of the team.

He moved to KCCA in August 2021 and the same year he got a call-up to the national team to play the regional tour to Eastern Uganda.

Mato made his Uganda Cranes debut in an international friendly against Iceland last year and has featured in eleven matches so far for the national side.

He has scored one goal for Uganda Cranes and it came in the 1-0 win over Tanzania at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in March 2023 during this very AFCON 2023 Qualifiers campaign.

Quick Profile

• Full Name: Rogers Kassim Mato
• Date of Birth: 10th October 2003
• Position: Forward
• Club: KCCA FC
• Uganda Cranes Goals: 1

You can follow the game between Algeria and Uganda Cranes on FUFA TV or attend the viewing party at the Old and New Taxi Park on Sunday, 18th June starting at 3:00 pm.

As Uganda Cranes draw closer to their second last game in the AFCON Qualifiers, we take a look at a brief profile of the players who will be raising the country’s flag.

We throw some light onto Emmanuel Okwi’s pathway.

Okwi started his career at Villa Park in 2008 before joining Tanzanian giants Simba SC in 2009 for US $40,000.

Okwi’s eagle eye for goal attracted Tunisian side Etoile Sportive du Sahel for a record transfer of US $300,000 but the team failed to pay the fee to Simba hence switching to SC Villa.

The forward-raised dust, witnessing protests in Tanzania after he later moved to Yanga Africans ditching his former side Simba SC.

Okwi made his debut for Uganda Cranes in 2009. He was the second-highest scorer in the 2010 CECAFA Cup, with four goals in five games played.

For starters, Okwi has been a journeyman playing for over seven different sides outside the borders.

Before joining his current team, Al-Zawraa SC he has previously been at Simba, Yanga, Etoile Du Sahel, Soderjyske, Al Ittihad and Kiyovu FC.

For Uganda Cranes, he has scored 28 goals in 96 appearances. His best year was 2013 when he netted five goals in 10 games.

During the 2017 AFCON tournament, he scored twice against DR Congo and Zimbabwe in a 2-0 win and 1-1 draw respectively.

Okwi’s last goal for Uganda Cranes was scored on 29th March 2022, as Uganda fell to Uzbekistan in a 2-4 loss in the 2022 Nowruz Cup at Markaziy Stadium, Namangan.

Quick Profile

• Full Name: Emmanuel Arnold Okwi
• Date of Birth: 25th December 1992
• Position: Forward
• Height: 179 cm
• Club: Al-Zawraa SC
• Uganda Cranes Goals: 28

You can follow the game between Algeria and Uganda Cranes on FUFA TV or attend the viewing party at the Old and New Taxi Park on Sunday, 18th June starting at 3:00 pm.

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC has confirmed that eight players will be decamping St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

According to the club’s website, the Venoms have let go of Disan Galiwango, Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, Ibrahim Orit, Bashir Asiku, Musa Ssali, Olivier Osomba, Garcia Mpongo Mbombo and Serge Robert Mwenge.

Left-back Galiwango and forward Orit revealed their departure from Kitende yesterday after they posted farewell messages via their socials.

Orit joined the Venoms on July 2, 2020, from Mbarara City on a three-year employment deal. He arrived to Kitende as a hot prospect but the 24-year-old forward hardly lived up to the expectations.

He leaves the club after lifting two league titles and two Uganda Cup titles.

On the other hand, Galiwango put pen on paper sealing a four-year deal.  So the former Express FC captain leaves Kitende with a year left on his contract.

Also, Tumwesigye sees the exit door following a return to Kitende from Police FC. The move marks the end of the second spell for the double champions.

Defender Asiku, a St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende graduate, leaves the club after four seasons of service as a diligent servant in the senior team.

Ssali, a graduate of the school, joined Vipers in the 2020-21 campaign making 12 appearances, he leaves after winning one league title and Uganda Cup.

Osomba leads the list of foreign players that have ended their marriage with Vipers. The others are Mpongo and Mwenge. The trio hardly impressed and it must have been easy for the club not to renew their contracts.