Cranes leave out Onyango, Asiimwe and Okello for DR Congo friendlies

What the report says

Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes, have travelled to South Africa for two friendlies against DR Congo without several established players, including captain Denis Onyango, defender Abdu Aziz Kayondo, right-back Nathan Asiimwe and midfielder Noble Okello. According to Nile Post, the Ugandan federation confirmed that the omissions were made by the technical team led by coach Paul Put.

The matches, scheduled for October 2 and October 5, are being used as part of Uganda’s build-up to the next Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures. The report says Put wants to use the trip to assess his wider squad and give other players international minutes, especially after the team’s strong start to the campaign.

The Cranes recently beat Libya 1-0 at Hoima City Stadium and had earlier drawn with Tunisia, leaving them unbeaten in their opening two Group H games. The South Africa camp also includes goalkeepers Hannington Ssebwalunyo, David Lukwago, Kingdom Osayi and Akpan Udoh, along with several heritage players and newer call-ups such as Abdoulaye Sissako, Souleymane Diaby, Gaucho Debohi Dieudonne, Kelvin Boateng, Toto Majub Brian and Sadam Masereka. The move suggests Uganda is broadening its options before November’s FIFA window and the next round of AFCON qualifiers against Botswana.