Thadeo Lwanga: SIMBA midfielder to miss Uganda World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Mali
Simba SC midfielder Thadeo Lwanga will not be part of the Uganda national team in their FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Kenya and Mali due to latest injury.
The Cranes face a tricky away clash with Kenya on Thursday afternoon in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers before hosting Mali on 6th September in second round of Group E.
The two East African neighbours will meet in the ‘Migingo Derby’ on September 2 at Kasarani. They are placed in Group E of the qualifiers alongside West African giants Mali and Rwanda as well, with the top team qualifying for the third qualifying round.
Their boss Milutin Srendojevic ‘Micho’ has named his final 23-man from the provisional 31 squad for the qualifiers with Simba midfielder Lwanga missing from the list ahead of the FIFA matches.
Micho said he was very upset by the reports of the Simba SC midfielder’s injury, and wished him all the best in the future as he recovers from the injury before returning to the pitch.
“I am very saddened to hear reports of Thadeo Lwanga’s injury”, said Micho.
Lwanga was part of the Simba squad camped in Morocco ahead of next season but the Ugandan International later returned to Dar es Salaam on four days ago.
Meanwhile, Micho believes Uganda have to stretch beyond limits if they are to defeat Kenya in their forthcoming Fifa World Cup qualifier.
“Kenya’s advantage is that they are just coming to the game in very high spirits. They are still in a very competitive mood as they just concluded their league,” Micho said as quoted by Football256.
“As such, we need to stretch ourselves beyond our limits to match their level of competence. We need to have a little optimism and self-belief. For the 90 minutes, we have to throw everything on the field for the team to get a positive result. We need to respect Kenya as our opponents, but our ability should be a bigger threat.
“We shall address all that in our last polishing touches, and we hope it will make the difference if those small details can be on our side, and we shall be victorious.”
As an effort to ensure efficient practice and training before the kickoff of Fifa World Cup qualifying matches, Micho had organized a trip to Jordan to have a friendly match against Syria and Ethiopia.
Unfortunately plans to reach Jordan struck a bottom rock after the Jordan leadership asked Cranes to be ready for a 14 days quarantine before the friendly matches.
The two matches in Syria were called off on the grounds that Uganda is one of the red-flagged nations.
“Efforts are being made by the Federation to find an alternative friendly match within that period, before facing Ethiopia,” Fufa said in a statement.
Afterwards, Uganda played against Ethiopia and lost by 2-1 last Sunday before they travel to Kenya.
Uganda full squad
Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Express FC), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), Simon Tamale (Soltilo Bright Stars FC), Nafian Alionzi (URA FC)
Defenders: Enock Walusimbi (Express FC), Innocent Wafula (Mbarara City FC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Eric Ssenjobe (Police FC), Azizi Kayondo (Vipers SC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Murushid Juuko (Express FC) Garvin Kizito Mugweri (SC Villa), Kenneth Ssemakula (SC Villa), Hassan Muhamood (Police FC), Denis Iguma (KCCA FC)
Midfielders: Nicholas Kasozi (Kyetume FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Muzamiru Mutyaba (Express FC), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA FC), Ali Abubaker Gift (KCCA FC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Abdu Lumala (Pyramids FC)
Forwards: Richard Basangwa (Vipers SC), Steven Dese Mukwala (URA FC), Patrick Henry Kaddu (RS Berkene), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Unattached), Yunus Ssentamu (Vipers SC), Jude Ssemugabi (Mbarara City FC), Martin Kizza (Express)
