Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic has named a 35-man provisional squad for the forthcoming 2022 African Nations Championship.

Vipers SC are the biggest contributors to the preliminary squad with 12 venoms named. League leaders KCCA and Wakiso Giants have 5 players apiece in the squad, URA (4), SC Villa (3), and Express (2).

The tournament will be played next year in Algeria from Friday, 13th January to Saturday, 4th February 2023.

Uganda Cranes are in a tricky Group B that has two-time defending champions DR Congo, and West African sides Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers – Nafian Alionzi (URA), Mathias Muwanga (Onduparaka), Joel Mutakubwa (Gaddafi), Emmanuel Kalyowa (BUL), Jack Komakech (Vipers)

Defenders – James Begisa (URA), Ashraf Mandela (Vipers), Grant Matsiko (Wakiso Giants), Derrick Ndahiro (URA), Isa Mubiru (Vipers), Arthur Kiggundu (Express), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers), Kenneth Ssemakula (SC Villa), Geoffrey Wasswa (KCCA), Filbert Obenchan (KCCA), Gift Fred (SC Villa), Bright Vuni (Arua Hill)

Midfielders – Siraje Sentamu (Vipers), Moses Waiswa (KCCA), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Hussein Ssenoga (Express), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Marvin Youngman (Vipers), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Travis Mutyaba (SC Villa), Moses Aliro (Wakiso Giants), Ssenoga Kagawa (KCCA), Rogers Mato (KCCA)

Strikers – Bright Anukani (Vipers), Ibrahim Kasule (Wakiso Giants), Titus Sematimba (Wakiso Giants), Frank Ssebuufu (Wakiso Giants), Yiga Najib (Vipers), Cromwell Rwothomio (Vipers)

Portuguese side Arouca Football Club has parted ways with Uganda Cranes defender Mustafa Kizza.

Kizza who joined the club in July leaves just after five months with the Primeira Liga side based in Arouca.

He leaves the club without featuring in the league having joined from Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.

The club posted on their social media: “FC Arouca and Mustafa Kizza have reached an agreement of the contract. We wish you sporting and personal success.”

The Club has not commented further on the developments.

The 2022 FUFA Drum final will be contested between West Nile and Lango Province.

The development follows Lango’s 1-0 win over Tooro Province in the second leg of the semifinal that was played on Sunday at the Akibua Stadium in Lira.

Allan Okello scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute. The penalty was given after Denis Omedi was brought down in the area by Benjamin Nyakoojo.

Lango Province thus progressed to the 2022 FUFA Drum final with a 3-2 aggregate having managed a 2-2 draw in the first leg a fortnight ago.

Okello was also on target in the first leg played at Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal where he bagged a double while Nyakoojo and Marvin Youngman scored the two goals for Tooro.

Lango will face West Nile in the final which will be played next year on dates yet to be communicated.

Lango XI: Emmanuel Odongkara (GK), Jacob Okao, John Paul Acire, Musa Ramathan, Ivan Okello, Isaac Okello, Moses Aliro, Franco Onen, Denis Omedi, Allan Okello, Joachim Ojera

Tooro XI: Emmanuel Kalyowa (GK), Timo Musinguzi, Benjamin Nyakoojo, Innocent Asiimwe, Johnny Mugweri Rubi, John Toki Byamukama, Fred Kigozi, Paddy Muhumuza, Nicholas Kagaba, Jungu Methodius, Anwar Ntege

URA Football Club’s winless streak extended to seven games after a stalemate with SC Villa.

The tax collectors last won a league match on November 12th when they beat Arua Hill at Nakisunga Ssaza Ground.

And at the same ground, URA has failed to beat SC Villa, a side they had beaten three times out of the previous five meetings.

Ivan Serubiri’s penalty in the 72nd minute cancelled out Ibrahim Dada’s 35th opener as the two teams to share the points.

The result puts more pressure on head coach Sam Timbe whose side is in a distant 11th place on the log.

SC Villa is now unbeaten in four matches, three of which have been victories on the bounce and a draw, putting them on 24 points, just five shy of leaders KCCA.

Next Up

URA will next visit Gaddafi at Kakindu on 20th December whereas Villa also visit the same side after the CHAN break.

Other Results

In other games played on Saturday, Vipers SC beat BUL 2-1 while Arua Hill SC overcame Soltilo Bright Stars 2-1.

Result

• Vipers 2-1 BUL

Cromwell Rothomio scored the winner as the venoms beat BUL 2-1 at Kitende to move within two points of leaders KCCA.

Milton Karisa had found the back of the net earlier to draw the game level after Karim Ndugwa had put the visitors in the lead with a wonder strike.

Ndugwa handed the Jinja-based side a 16th-minute lead with a well-taken goal from over 35 yards looping the ball over the advancing Fabien Mutombora after a flick by Ibrahim Nsimbe.

The lead lasted six minutes as Karisa punished his former paymasters capitalizing on a rebound from Saidi Keni as he parried Bright Anukani’s shot into his path.

Rwothomio then won it in the 34^th minute from close range when he finished past Keni after being teed up by Anukani.

Vipers held on to win all points that take them to 27 points, just two behind KCCA who beat Busoga United on Friday with one game in the first round to play.

Express Football Club and Maroons Football Club settled for a one-all draw thanks to late-late goals at the Prisons Grounds in Luzira.

Both goals came in added time of the game.

Substitute Ivan Mayanja thought he had won it for Express when he headed in just at the 90th minute. However, Fred Amaku equalized with a cool finish off the rebound in the last minute of the four added, to earn a point for the hosts.

The result means the Red Eagles remain winless in six straight games, leaving them in 9th position with 16 points while Maroons remain 10th with 15 points.

There were no clear-cut chances created in the opening half of the game whose flow was affected by the soggy pitch.

At the end of regulation time, Mayanja broke the deadlock with a long header off the rebound but Simon Tamale would have done better in punching away Hassan Mubiru’s cross.

In what was the last kick of the game, Amaku tapped in the rebound after Samson Kigozi’s initial effort was kept out by goalkeeper Abdul Kimera.

Next Up

Maroons will end the first round with a visit at Njeru to play BUL while Express will host Blacks Power .

Starting XIs

Maroons XI: Simon Tamale, Belmos Opio, Jacob Okao, Godwin Kitagenda, Edward Kabona, Ronald Orombi, Isaac Mpagi, Brian Nkuubi, Solomon Walusimbi, Fred Amaku, Sula Mpanga.

Express XI: Abdul Kimera, Joseph Dhata, Joshua Musoke, Arthur Kiggundu, Derrick Ngoobi, Denis Otim, Hussein Ssenoga, Daniel Shabene, Hassan Mubiru, Anwar Ntege, Allan Kayiwa

Simon Tshisungu Kankonde scored his second goal of the season to hand KCCA FC a hard-fought 2-1 victory against resilient Busoga United.

Laban Tibita had earlier scored a first-half equalizer to cancel out a penalty from Julius Poloto which had put KCCA in the lead at the MTN Omondi Stadium.

The win means KCCA get back back to winning ways as they extend their unbeaten run to nine games and extend their top-of-the-table lead to five points.

Poloto put the Kasasiro in a deserved lead when he converted from the spot after goalkeeper Micheal Lutaaya brought down Muhammad Shaban.

After half an hour, KCCA FC was caught on the break as Moses Lugono beat defender Mustafa Mujuzi to set up Laban Tibita who curved the ball to the far post, past goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan to level matters.

KCCA coach Morley Byekwaso reacted in the second half of the game with a triple substitution which saw Ashraf Mugume, Haruna Lukwago, and Ssenoga Kagawa come in to replace Emmanuel Wasswa, Mato Rodgers, and Julius Poloto.

With 20 minutes to play, Kankonde had his first shot on goal but it was too powerful and went above the crossbar. The Congolese was set up by Kagawa and then created space for himself to send in a thunderbolt shot which beat goalkeeper Micheal Lutaaya to the far post to restore KCCA lead with 12 minutes to play.

Next Up

KCCA FC will return to action as they visit Bright Stars at Kavumba Recreation Playgrounds on Tuesday, 20th December.

Busoga United will return to action as they face Vipers on the same day at FUFA Technical Center in Njeru.

Starting XIs

KCCA FC XI: Benjamin Ochan (GK), Filbert Obenchan, Rogers Atube, Mustafa Mujuzi, Emmanuel Wasswa, Saidi Mayanja, Allan Okello, Moses Waiswa, Rodgers Mato, Mohammed Shaban, Julius Poloto

Busoga United XI: Michael Lutaaya (GK), Isaac Isinde, Thomas Ochungo, Moses Lugono, Dickson Niwamanya, Fredrik Ngalo, Herbert Onyango, Laban Tibita, Ibrahim Kayiwa, Hassan Kintu, Charles Mulanda

KCCA Coach Morley Byekwaso feels his charges should not underestimate Busoga United who they face on Friday in the penultimate game of the first round.

The Kasasiro lead the table while Busoga United sit second from bottom with only seven points at this stage.

“We can’t make a mistake of underestimating Busoga because they have improved in every game and we saw what they did at Wakiso Giants,” said Byekwaso.

“But I believe if we play like the way we have been doing in recent games, we shall win but it’s no walk in the park,” he added.

KCCA will want to establish a five-point gap between them and the chasing pack until second-placed Vipers host third-placed BUL at Kitende.

Busoga United will miss the services of suspended Geoffrey Wasswa who could be replaced by Emmanuel Wasswa while Ashraf Mugume is doubtful.

KCCA FC will depend on Allan Okello, Moses Waiswa, Muhammad Shaban, and Julius Poloto for goals.

Wednesday 14th December 2022

·        UPDF FC Vs Gaddafi FC, Bombo Military Barracks Grounds (4:00 pm) Live on Sanyuka Prime TV

Friday 16^th December 2022

·         Maroons FC Vs Express FC, Prison Ground-Luzira (2:00 pm) Live on Sanyuka Prime TV

·         Blacks Power FC Vs Onduparaka FC, Akibua Memorial Stadium-Lira (4:00pm) Live on FUFA TV

·         KCCA FC Vs Busoga United FC, MTN Omondi Stadium- Lugogo (4:00pm) Live on Sanyuka Prime TV

Saturday 17^th December 2022

·         Vipers SC Vs BUL FC, St Mary’s Stadium-Kitende (2:00 pm) Live on FUFA TV

·         URA FC Vs SC Villa, Nakisunga Ssaza Ground – Mukono (4:00pm) Live on Sanyuka Prime TV

·         Arua Hill SC Vs Soltilo Bright Stars FC, Barifa Stadium-Arua (4:00 pm)

Results

• BUL 1-1 KCCA
• Express FC 0-0 Vipers
• Soltilo Bright Stars 0-2 Wakiso Giants

KCCA missed an opportunity to widen the gap at the top with rivals after they drew with BUL 1-1 at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru.

KCCA came from a goal down too as Julius Poloto scored a minute into the second half to cancel out Vincent Zziwa’s first-half strike.

Kasasiro remains top with 26 points, two better than second, third, and fourth-placed Wakiso Giants, the only winners on the day.

Wakiso Giants beat Soltilo Bright Stars 2-0 at Kavumba to bounce back from two back-to-back defeats.

At Mutesa II stadium, Wankulukuku, reigning champions Vipers fired blanks in a goalless stalemate with seven-time winners Express FC.

The league resumes on Friday with teams involved in the penultimate fixtures of the first round.

Vipers Sports Club played to a barren stalemate with Express FC in a StarTimes Uganda Premier League match played at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Tuesday.

It was a game characterized by very few clear-cut openings from either side.

Denis Otim pulled off a brilliant save to deny Vipers’ captain Milton Karisa in the 37th minute and Cromwell Rwothomio also came close.

In the second stanza, the hosts threatened a couple of times through Arthur Kigundu whose header went over the bar, and Hussein Ssenoga whose effort was saved by Fabien Mutombora.

The Red Eagles came close again only for defender Hillary Mukundane to stand strong and make an outstanding clearance to deny Joseph Akandwanaho.

Next Up

After earning a point, Express is now positioned ninth on the 15-team log with 15 points and will visit Maroons FC on Friday, 16th December.

Vipers, who are second with 24 points, will play host to 3rd-placed BUL FC at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Saturday, 17th December.

Line Ups

Vipers SC XI: Fabien Mutombora (GK), Isa Mubiru, Ashraf Mandela, Hilary Mukundane, Bashir Asiku, Siraje Ssentamu, Marvin Joseph Youngman, Najib Yiga, Cromwel Rwothomio, Bright Anukani, Milton Karisa (C).

Substitutions: Denis Kiggundu, Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, Rogers Torach, Olivier Osomba, Ibrahim Orit, Abubakar Lawal, Garcia Mpongo Mbombo.