The victorious Uganda Cranes contingent that traveled to Lesotho for the 2019 Total AFCON qualifier safely returned home on Wednesday afternoon.
The group set foot at Entebbe International Airport aboard the chartered flight facilitated by the Government of Uganda at around 3:15 PM in great moods following a 2-0 away win over Lesotho at the Setsoto stadium in Maseru city with Faruku Miya scoring both goals.
They were received by FUFA officials led by the third Vice President Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, who is also the State Minister for Youth and Children affairs.
FUFA Finance Director Decolas Kiiza and Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein were also at the tarmac to receive the team Football Delegates and several FUFA staff were also in Entebbe.
‘We are very delighted for the two back to back wins against Lesotho. Winning 3-0 at home and 2-0 away was superb as we get closer to AFCON 2019 qualification’ Nakiwala stated.
Majority of the players on board were locally based since some foreign based players connected straight from the Moshoeshoe International Airport in Maseru to their respective destinations to return to their clubs.
Goalkeepers Salim Jamal and Charles Lukwago, Sadam Ibrahim Juma, Derrick Nsibambi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Khalid Aucho, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Moses Waiswa, Isaac Isinde, Timothy Dennis Awany, Tadeo Lwanga, Allan Kyambadde, Patrick Henry Kaddu are some of the players who returned home on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, other players like Miya, Edrisa Lubega, Godfrey Walusimbi, team captain Dennis Onyango, Nico Wakiro Wadada, Murushid Jjuuko, Dennis Iguma, Allan Kateregga connected to their respective clubs where they ply their trade.
Addressing the media moments after checking through the immigration department at Entebbe International Airport, head coach Sebastien Desabre appreciated the effort of the players for the job well done.
‘We played with a target to get maximum points in the two legs against Lesotho. We achieved it and we remain focused to qualify for AFCON 2019. I thank the players, technical team, FUFA, fans and the Government’ Desabre told the media.
Emmanuel Okwi, like the head coach narrated the targets they had set – winning the two back to back matches, which gave them an advantage coming to the final two matches.
‘It is good that the players had a target and achieved it. There are two more matches and we should not relax, we need two more wins to finish top’ Okwi, who plays for Simba Sports Club in Tanzania stated.
FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo once again reminded the media about the genesis of the federation’s plans when he took over office in 2013.
‘These results are not by accident. They are a result of planning. We held a symposium in 2015 attended by the Vice President of Uganda, Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi. We set ourselves targets and how to achieve them. These are some of the fruits. We have not yet qualified for AFCON 2019, but the prime objective remains to qualify when we secure at least a point in the remaining two matches. Eng. Magogo disclosed.
Uganda Cranes will get back to action on 17th November 2019 at Namboole Stadium against Cape Verde.
