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Uganda Cubs fall to Morocco in AFCON U-17

Uganda Cranes midfielder Chris Pius Akena has joined Al Rams Sports Club, a first-division entity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The left-footed 20-year-old midfielder has been unattached to any club since departing FC Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai last season.

Akena lauded the different parties who played a fundamental role in making the dream come true and a reality.

“I wanna thank whoever was part of this and made the move happen, it’s a beautiful day and hoping to achieve more with my new family,” he tweeted.

Akena developed his craft at Pro-Way Soccer Academy and the Qatar ASPIRE Academy Football Project. He also featured for Shabab Reserve before moving to the FC Shabab Al Ahli Dubai senior team.

He has earned two international caps with the Uganda national senior football team, Uganda Cranes.

Ugandan footballer Edward Kizza has bid his farewell to MLS side New England Revolution following his permanent move to USL Championship outfit Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

Kizza, 24, joined the Hounds last July on a loan deal and scored three goals in 12 appearances. With the new season approaching, Kizza is back in the town where he started.

“I would like to thank @NERevolution for giving the opportunity to represent them! Shared great memories on and off the field and those i will carry with me! Im very excited to be back in Pittsburgh and I cant wait to continue what we started!!#HOUNDTAHN,” he wrote on his social media.

Kizza first arrived in Pittsburgh to play collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh. In three seasons with the Panthers from 2017-19, Kizza scored 31 goals and helped lead Pitt to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 54 years.

After being drafted by the Revolution in 2020, he made 11 appearances for the MLS club while also spending time on loan with New England Revolution II in USL League One and with fellow USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC.

USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Ugandan forward Edward Kizza have agreed on a permanent deal for the 2023 season.

Kizza, 24, joined the outfit last July on a loan deal with the New England Revolution of MLS and scored three goals in 12 appearances with the Hounds.

With that background, Kizza is believed to be an asset according to head coach Bob Lilley. “Kizza brings goal scoring, ideas and mobility up top.

“He is a forward who works hard for the team, and we are excited to have him back in Pittsburgh for the 2023 USL Championship season.”

Kizza first arrived in Pittsburgh to play collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh. In three seasons with the Panthers from 2017-19, Kizza scored 31 goals and helped lead Pitt to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 54 years.

He has featured for New England Revolution II in USL League One and with fellow USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC.

The 2023 USL Championship season begins March 11, when the Hounds will visit Birmingham Legion FC.

In preparation for CAF Champions League group stage, Vipers Sports Club has continued to bolster its squad in the January transfer window.

The Venoms have completed the signing of Ivory Coast forward Ahmed Desire Titty, making him the fourth signing of the secondary player transfer window.

The 24-year-old joins Vipers on a two-year deal after parting ways with Tunisian top-tier outfit EO Sidi Bouzid.

Previously, Titty featured for Kuwait sides Al-Sulaibikhat, Al-Sahel (2019-20), Al-Jahra SC (2020-21) and Al-Shabab in the 202-22 season.

However, before joining the latter in the 2021-22 campaign, he had a short stint with Portuguese division two side Academico Viseu.

The other additions Vipers have made in the January window are Karim Ndugwa, Martin Kizza and Congolese midfielder Serge Robert Mwenge.

Titty will battle with the likes of Cromwell Rwothomio, Yunus Sentamu, Darcy Mbaka Kipoyi, and Ndugwa in the attacking department.

Quick Profile

West Nile Province was crowned winners of the third edition of the FUFA Drum after a 3-2 aggregate score at the end of the two-legged final.

West Nile lost 2-1 to Lango Province at Aki Bua Stadium Lira on Sunday but having won the first leg 2-0 at the Greenlight Stadium, the side won the tournament on aggregate score.

Skipper Rashid Toha scored the vital goal after Joachim Ojera and Dickens Okwir had scored in the 11th and 38th minutes respectively to give Lango Province a 2-0 lead and level the aggregate score.

The White Rhinos join Buganda Province and Acholi Province who won the first and second editions of the tournament in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Action between West Nile and Lango (Fufa Photo)

KCCA FC attacking midfielder Allan Okello of Lango Province finished with four goals and emerged as the top scorer.

Nafian Alionzi (West Nile Province), now with the Uganda Cranes CHAN team, was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament while Lango’s Denis Omedi was named the MVP.

Fred Muhumuza of Tooro Province was named the best coach of the tournament.

All individual awards came along with 1,000,000 Ugx.

Awards

Uganda Cranes started their campaign at the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a goalless draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the game played on Saturday evening at the 19th May 1956 Stadium in Annaba, neither side could get the breakthrough at the end of 90 minutes, sharing the spoils.

The Cranes started on the front foot with skipper Milton Karisa troubling the Congolese on the right wing while Moses Waiswa and Abdu Karim Watambala enjoyed possession in the middle of the park.

Midway through the first half, Karisa had a strike disallowed after the referee called for a foul in the process leading to the goal while Waiswa had a free kick fly a few inches off target.

After recess, Uganda’s coach Milutin Sredojevic made changes introducing Titus Ssematimba and Ibrahim Orit for Watambala and Rogers Mato and later Travis Mutyaba, Nelson Senkatuka and Kenneth Semakula all coming on for Karisa, Frank Ssebufu and Waiswa in that order.

Defender Gift Fred nearly won the game for Uganda with seven minutes to play when Geofrey Wasswa’s delivery from a free kick found him unmarked in the area but his headed effort ricocheted off the upright.

The Cranes will return to action on Wednesday next week to take on Senegal.

Uganda Cranes Starting XI: Nafian Alionzi (GK), James Begisa, Derrick Ndahiro, Gift Fred, Geofrey Wasswa, Marvin Youngman, Abdu Karim Watambala, Moses Waiswa, Frank Ssebufu, Milton Karisa (C)

Substitutes: Jack Komakech (GK), Joel Mutakubwa (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Kenneth Semakula, Hillary Mukundane, Bright Anukani, Travis Mutyaba, Titus Ssematimba, Nelson Senkatuka, Ibrahim Orit, Moses Aliro

Uganda Cranes will begin their journey at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) today as they face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Group B encounter will be played at Stade 19th May 1956 in Annaba and presents an opportunity for the current players to write history in the country’s sixth appearance at the tournament.

The team prepared for the tournament with a training camp in Tunisia where they played three friendly games that ended in stalemates against Sudan (2-2), Cameroon (1-1) and Mali (0-0).

Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic who has managed the team in some of the past tournaments hopes his charges can pick a result in the opening game.

“After three weeks of preparations, it is now time to deliver and do better than before. The players are in the right shape and we hope victory will come our way on Saturday.

“Every game in the Group is crucial but winning the first game is important. It helps boost confidence going into the next games,” said Micho.

Skipper Milton Karisa is confident and optimistic the team will deliver.

“We are ready both mentally and physically. Everyone on the team is pushing towards making ourselves and the country proud. The ultimate target is to go beyond the group stages, a thing we have not done in the past,” he said.

The Cranes have failed to make it out of the group stages on all occasions.

Crested Cranes forward Fauzia Najjemba has completed a move to Russian side Dynamo Moscow Women Football Club.

She joins the club on a three-year deal from Kazakhstan side BIIK Shymkent.

“New home for me and so excited to join FC Dynamo – Women. Can’t wait to get started. Thanks be to Allah,” Najjemba tweeted.

The 19-year-old will don shirt 20 at her newfound home.

It should be noted that before moving to Europe early last year, the U20 national women’s football team captain had a good run in 2021, finishing as the top scorer for Uganda at the CECAFA U20 Women’s Championship with eleven goals in five games.

She was also named the FUFA Female Footballer of the Year in 2021

Locally, Najjemba has previously played for Isra Soccer Academy and Kampala Queens.

Kitara Football Club’s pursuit of Premier League football has gone a notch higher by signing a player from a top-flight club in the midseason transfer window.

The FUFA Big League side has unveiled winger Godfrey Lwesibawa as their first January signing.

Lwesibawa joins the Royals from Gaddafi Modern FC on a six-month deal and was unveiled on Friday.

“I believe this is the right choice and place for me to be, Kitara is an exciting club and I want to pledge my hard work and commitment to them,” he said as quoted by the club media.

Lwesibawa brings a lot of experience to Kitara and his ball-crossing abilities could add o the production of Patrick Kaddu who is goot in the air.

He has also previously played for SC Villa, Express and Tooro United.

Kitara is on top of the Big League table with 30 points from 14 games.

Uganda Cranes arrived in Annaba, Algeria on Wednesday evening and settled ahead of the kickoff of the African Nations Championship.

With the tournament getting underway on Friday, players and the technical staff are making the final preparations.

FUFA says “On Thursday, the team had an orientation engagement with CAF officials covering aspects like matchday operations, doping, laws of the game, communication, marketing, safety and security among others.

“Later in the day, the team also conducted its first training session in Annaba at Stade Chabbou.”

Uganda is in Group B and will face the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday at Stadium 19th May 1956.

Uganda Cranes CHAN squad

Goalkeepers
Nafian Alionzi (URA FC), Joel Mutakubwa (Gaddafi FC), Jack Komakech (Vipers SC)

Defenders
Ashiraf Mandela (Vipers SC), James Begisa Penz (URA FC), Derrick Ndahiro (URA FC), Isa Mubiru (Vipers SC), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers SC), Kenneth Semakula(SC Villa), Geofrey Wasswa (KCCA FC), Gift Fred (SC Villa)

Midfielders
Marvin Joseph Youngman (Vipers SC), Abdu Karim Watambala(Vipers SC), Moses Waiswa (KCCA FC)

Forwards
Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Travis Mutyaba (SC Villa), Moses Aliro (Wakiso Giants FC), Rogers Mato (KCCA FC), Bright Anukani (Vipers SC), Titus Ssematimba (Wakiso Giants), Frank Ssebufu (Wakiso Giants FC), Nelson Senkatuka(Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

Officials
Leader of Delegation – Dr. Apollo Ahimbisibwe

Head Coach – Milutin Sredojevic

Assistant Coach – Moses Basena

Goalkeeping Coach – Fred Kajoba

Fitness Trainer – Arthur Kyesimira

Team Doctor – Emmanuel Nakabago

Physiotherapist – Ivan Ssewanyana

Team Manager – Geoffrey Massa

National Teams’ Officer – Paul Mukatabala

Equipment Managers – Samuel Mulondo and Ayub Balyejjusa

Team Media Officer – Ahmed Hussein

FUFA Media – Joel Muyita

FUFA Tv – Patrick Lugemwa

FUFA Staff – Richard Nandigobe