Charles Lukwago, Gavin Kizito and team captain Emmanuel Okwi are the three players who started the reverse fixture in Kampala but are unavailable for Thursday’s do-or-die encounter.
Uganda Cranes will go up against Niger on Thursday night with a focus on getting maximum points to stand any chance of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Having been held to a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s Kitende in June 2022, the Cranes must now win against a Niger side hosting their last game in Marrakech, Morocco.
Click here to vote for your Pulse Sports Influencer 2023
Both Uganda and Tanzania are still in contention to join Algeria, who have won all their five games to amass 15 points and top Group F.
)
11:53 - 06.09.2023
FOOTBALL What must happen for Uganda Cranes to qualify for AFCON
Rogers Mato’s winner against Tanzania in Dar es Salam kept Uganda’s qualification hopes alive, but the job must now be done with another victory and prayers.
Uganda’s opponent, Niger, is the only eliminated side with no chance of qualification, regardless of what result they post in their last game.
But for Uganda, any conversation around qualification starts with maximum points against Niger.
With a full team of 23 fit and ready for action, Milutin Sredojevic will have to select players trusted to get the desired result.
Click here to vote for your Pulse Sports Influencer 2023
06:40 - 06.09.2023
FOOTBALL How much Uganda Cranes players will pocket for beating Niger
Big matches usually come with big bonuses for the players, and Thursday’s clash with Niger is one of the biggest matches the Cranes will be involved in.
Charles Lukwago, Gavin Kizito and team captain Emmanuel Okwi are the three players who started the reverse fixture in Kampala but are unavailable for Thursday’s do-or-die encounter.
In their absence, Micho will have decisions to make, and Pulse Sports takes a look at the probable lineup the Serbian Wolf could employ to get the job done.
Goal
Salim Jamal
Since the retirement of Denis Onyango, the Cranes are yet to find a permanent replacement, and different faces have already auditioned for the shirt.
)
But no one has made the place his own yet. Jamal had a howler against Algeria, and it would not surprise anyone if he was dropped.
Ismail Watenga and Nafian Alionzi are the other options waiting in the wings for their numbers to be called on.
Click here to vote for your Pulse Sports Influencer 2023
Would Micho want to throw in another goalkeeper who has yet to play any minutes in this particular campaign? Probably not.
)
09:07 - 07.09.2023
PICTORIAL Uganda vs Niger: How Micho groomed Miya for Uganda Cranes 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifier
This week marks seven years since September 4th 2016, when a certain budding youngster Faruku Miya shot into national fame by scoring the final goal that broke Uganda Cranes’ 39-year jinx of failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jamal is, therefore, expected to keep his place between the posts but will need to move on from the blunder he committed the last time out.
Defence
Kenneth Semakula, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziz Kayondo
Micho has continuously trusted Kenneth Semakula at right-back despite the defender featuring mainly as a centre back at his club, SC Villa.
)
Iceland-based Elvis Bwomono has been in and out of the team and has not been trusted enough.
It is unlikely that Micho will name him ahead of Semakula.
At centre back, Halid Lwaliwa partnered with Gift Fred against Algeria, but the Yanga defender is not in Morocco.
)
11:11 - 06.09.2023
NETBALL Let us pay more focus to netball -MP Sarah Opendi urges parliament
The She Cranes have gone to the last three Netball World Cups and finished fifth at the recently concluded showpiece in Cape Town, South Africa.
Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi is the likely choice to team up with the former Vipers skipper ahead of Musa Ramathan.
Aziz Kayondo has cemented his place at left back and is expected to start ahead of Isaac Muleme and Joseph Ochaya.
Midfield
Taddeo Lwanga, Khalid Aucho, Faruku Miya, Milton Karisa, Joseph Ochaya
The return of Taddeo Lwanga into the team should mean he is ready to start and partner Khalid Aucho in the holding midfield role.
)
Micho being a safety-first kind of manager, he will need two deep-lying midfielders to act as shock absorbers every time Niger threaten.
Joseph Ochaya ahead of Aziz Kayondo on the left wing is becoming a tradition in Micho’s setup, and that might not change on Thursday.
Click here to vote for your Pulse Sports Influencer 2023
Faruku Miya and Milton Karisa are the other players expected to complete the midfield.
Forward
Fahad Bayo
He is yet to open his account in these qualifiers, but Fahad Bayo could start ahead as the lone striker for the Cranes.
)
Rogers Mato might have scored the goal that ensured all hope is not lost, but Micho seems to have settled for Bayo whenever he is available.
Frank Sebuufu and Richard Basangwa are the other options Micho will hope to bring in for goals.
The Cranes have scored just two goals in these qualifiers, Mato and Karisa being the scorers in a blunt forward line.
)
08:48 - 06.09.2023
AFCON 2023 Q Bevis Mugabi eyeing second Africa Cup of Nations appearance with Uganda Cranes
Uganda sit third in Group F and needs to win the game and pray that Algeria beat Tanzania in the other match for any chance to qualification. The match will be played on Thursday night at 10 PM in Marrakech, Morocco.
Whatever lineup Micho selects, the first step to qualification will be winning against Niger.
Algeria have been unplayable for the rest of the field in Group F but have nothing to fight for in their last match.
Should Tanzania halt the Foxes’ winning run, Uganda will be out and have to sit out yet another continental showpiece, having last appeared at the 2019 edition in Cairo, Egypt.
Uganda Cranes Probable line up
Salim Jamal, Kenneth Semakula, Aziz Kayondo, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Taddeo Lwanga, Khalid Aucho, Faruku Miya, Milton Karisa, Joseph Ochaya, Fahad Bayo.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)