The 2020 African Nations Championship, known as the Total African Nations Championship will be the 6th edition of the African Nations Championship, a biennial football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) exclusively featuring players from the respective national championships.
Expatriate players, regardless of where they play, even in Africa, are not qualified to take part in the tournament.
First announced on Tuesday, 11th, September, 2007, the first CHAN tournament was hosted in Ivory Coast in 2009 and was won by Democratic Republic of Congo who defeated Ghana 2-0.
Other teams that have won this championship include Tunisia in 2011, Libya in 2014, Congo in 2016 and Morocco in 2018.
The 2020 African Nations Championship will be the fifth consecutive appearance for Uganda Cranes and our reporter Joseph Mary Ssempiira dissects why he thinks the Cranes are good enough for this edition to the extent of breaking their bad record at the championship where they haven’t managed to go past the group stages in the entire past four editions.
Team experience at the tournament:
The Cranes have been at the African Nations Championship for four years and this edition will be their fifth in a row. Together with Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, they have the most appearances (5) at CHAN.
I therefore expect the team to back on this experience to challenge itself for a much better performance than before for the sake of national pride.
Good preparations:
The Cranes have had good preparations ahead of the tournament. They enterd training early enough before they travelled to Cameroon were they got involved in a Pre-CHAN Tournament, getting tested against Zambia, Niger and Cameroon.
Out of the three games that the Cranes played, they won 2-0 against Zambia; won 3-0 against Niger and drew 1-1 with Cameroon. So going by that performance in a space of one week, I think the Cranes can translate it into the CHAN Finals.
The other big advantage about the Pre-CHAN Tournament is that all the teams that were involved will be at the finals therefore the Cranes were able to test against CHAN 2020 quality and the results were amazing.
Team chemistry:
This Cranes team has had the opportunity to be together for quite a time as they head into the CHAN finals. I believe they have developed a better understanding for each other and I see them as a team that is ready to cooperate and work together in order to achieve success.
Will the team chemistry now, Coach Johnathan Mckinstry can now focus on getting the most out of this fairly young, talented and experienced team.
I think the results for Uganda will be good because I feel with the time the team has been together, there is a big solidarity (team work) which can be used as the back bone of the Cranes’ performance at CHAN 2020.
Balanced team:
This Cranes squad at the 2020 Total African Nations Championship in Cameroon in my opinion is the most balanced national team Uganda has assembled for national duty.
To start with is the generation of good young players with a lot of talent in the squad. Mckinstry has plenty of talent at his disposal, including Brian Aheebwa, Paul Willa, Halid Lwaliwa Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Musitafa Mujuzi, Bright Anukani, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Abdu Karim Watambala, Joackiam Ojera, Ben Ocen and Ibrahim Orit Ibrahim among others.
Though talent alone is not enough to deliver results, I believe Mckinstry can maximize it to see that it gives Uganda the best out of the championship this time round.
Coming to experience, the Cranes is rich too in this area which is also very vital in a team set-up and performance. With the like of Tonny Mawejje, Charles Lukwago, Dennis Iguma, Saidi Kyeyune and Shaban Muhammad; I see the team ready to go and pull off a decent performance better than the past editions.
The Cranes also go into this year’s CHAN Finals with attacking players of supreme ability in Aheebwa, Ojera and Ben Ocen. These three have being in fine form for the clubs in the Star Times Uganda Premier League.
Aheebwa has scored 7 goals for KCCA Football Club so far in five league games and also scored 3 goals in the CAF Confederation Cup in is very last game before joining the rest of the team in Cameroon while Ocen has 6 goals too for Police Football Club from 5 league games.
In addition, the mid-field which will be well marshaled by Tonny Mawejje and the likes of Saidi Kyeyune, Bright Anukani, Bobosi Byaruhanga and Shafik Kagimu among others is also one that will give the Cranes the balance of young, talent and experience.
Organization:
One word for any team to perform better is the need to be organized and the Cranes are up there in terms of organization this time round.
At the federation level, the team was assembled well in time and given all the necessary support thus giving the technical team too all the time it needed to shape the team into the desired team structure ready for the championship.
With good organization, objectives set can be achieved and believe me; making it out of the group stages should be one of the realistic objectives that the Cranes is set to achieve at CHAN 2020.
In a nutshell, the Cranes is blessed with the talent, physical power, experience, solidity and team spirit and I see it putting up a magnificent performance, the best ever in its history at the CHAN Finals.
The finals to be in Cameroon from 16th January to 7th February 2021.
Uganda Cranes are in Group C with Rwanda, Togo and the defending Champions Morocco and will play the first game against Rwanda, followed by Togo and lastly against Morocco in the group stages.
This will be the second meeting between Uganda Cranes and Morocco. In the 2014 edition hosted by South Africa, Morocco defeated Uganda 3-1; with Yunus Sentamu scoring for the Cranes.
My preferred starting XI in game one against Rwanda:
Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (Vipers SC), Musitafa Mujuzi (Kyetume FC), Halid Lwaliwa _ Captain (Vipers SC), Tonny Mawejje (Police FC), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA FC), Bright Anukani (KCCA FC), Joackiam Ojera (URA FC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC) and Brian Aheebwa (KCCA FC).
The Cranes Squad at the 2020 CHAN Finals:
Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC, 1), Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume FC, 18), Nafian Alionzi Legason (URA FC, 19) Tom Ikara (Police C, 20)
Defenders: Hassan Muhamud (Police FC, 2), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (Vipers SC, 3), Musitafa Mujuzi (Kyetume FC, 4), Eric Ssenjobe (Police FC, 5), Denis Iguma (KCCA FC, 12), Paul Willa (Vipers SC, 15), Halid Lwaliwa _ Captain (Vipers SC, 21), Paul Patrick Mbowa (URA FC, 24)
Midfielders: Tonny Mawejje (Police FC, 6), Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA FC, 8), Bright Anukani (KCCA FC, 14), Saidi Kyeyune (URA FC, 16), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC, 22), Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers SC, 25)
Forwards: Joackiam Ojera (URA FC, 7), Brian Aheebwa (KCCA FC, 9), Ben Ocen (Police FC, 10), Viane Ssekajugo (Wakiso Giants FC, 11), Ibrahim Orit Ibrahim (Vipers SC, 13), Muhammad Shaban Jagason (Vipers SC, 17), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC, 23)
Past Cranes CHAN appearance and performance:
Uganda Cranes first appeared at Africa’s second prestigious nations’ tournament in 2011 when Sudan hosted the event.
Then, Uganda was pooled in Group A with the host Sudan, Gabon and Algeria who were all debutants in the tournament.
Under British Born Coach Robert Williamson, the Cranes lost all the three games against Algeria (2-0), Sudan (1-0) and Gabon (2-1).
The squad had the likes of Hamza Muwonge (Bunamwaya SC now Vipers Sports Club), ),Yasin Mugabi, Jimmy Mukubya (URA Football Club), Derrick Walulya(URA FC), Habib Kavuma(Bunamwaya SC now Vipers Sports Club), Denis Guma (Sports Club Villa), Ivan Bukenya (Proline Football Club), Manko Kaweesa(URA Football Club), Ibrahim Saddam Juma: He scored the only goal that Cranes managed in the tournament; a penalty against Gabon in the final group game, Noah Ssemakula (Sports Club Villa), Ceaser Okhuti (Bunamwaya SC now Vipers Sports Club), Mike Mutyaba (Bunamwaya SC now Vipers Sports Club), Simeon Masaba He captained the team at the competition, Yuda Mugalu (Victors Football Club), Owen Kasule (Bunamwaya SC now Vipers Sports Club), Simon Sserunkuma (SC Villa), Edward Ssali Vipers SC, Ayub Kisaliita (SC Villa) and Tony Odur ( Vipers Sports Club).
The second appearance came in 2014 in South Africa and the Cranes were placed in Group B with Morocco, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.
In South Africa, the Cranes’ performance improved though it wasn’t enough to see them qualify from the group like it was the case in Sudan in 2011.
The Cranes won one game, Burkina Faso 1-2 Uganda Yunus Sentamu 15’ 73’; drew one game, Zimbwabw 0-0 Uganda and lost 3-1 to Morocco. Sentamu scoring the only goal in that game in the 59 minute.
Uganda Cranes’ Coach then, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sedrojevic deployed as follows for the championship.
Goal Keepers: Ochan Benjamin (Sport Club Victoria University), Watenga Ismail (Sports Club Vipers), and Kimera Ali (Sport Club Victoria University),
Defenders: Iguma Denis (Sport Club Victoria University), Martin Mpuga (Sport Club Victoria University), Kasaga Richard (Kira Young Football Club), Muleme Isaac (Sport Club Victoria University), Kabugo Savio (Sport Club Victoria University), Aloro Rogers (KCCA Football Club),
Midfielders: Ntambi Julius (Kira Young Football Club), Kyeyune Said (URA Football Club), Kyambade Allan (Express Football Club), Kayizi Vincent ( Vipers Sports Club), Mugerwa Yasser (Sport Club Victoria University), Brian Majwega (KCC football Club), Ivan Ntege (KCC Football Club), Mpande Joseph (Sport Club Victoria University), and Hassan Waswa (KCC Football Club).
Forwards: Asiku Crespo (BUL Football Club), Olaki Francis (Soana Football Club), Okwi Simon (Sport Club Victoria University), Sentamu Yunus (Vipers Sports Club).
In 2016, the championship went to Rwanda. Uganda Cranes was placed in Group D alongside Mali, Zimbabwe and Zambia and played all the matches at the lake side Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.
The Cranes in Rwanda put up a poor show; failing to win a game. They drew two games; 2-2 with Mali (Joseph Ochaya 11’ and Faruk Miya 40 minute penalty); 1-1 with Zimbwabwe (Geoffrey Sserunkuma 90+3) and lost 1-0 to Zambia.
The squad in Rwanda under Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sedrojevic had the likes of:
Goal keepers: Mathias Kigonya, Alitho James and Isima Bin Abdul Rashid Watenga.
Defenders: Denis Okot Oola, Nsubuga Joseph, Juuko Richard Kassaga, Bernard Muwanga, Isaac Muleme, Ochaya Benson Joseph, Awany Timothy Denis and Kirya Ambrose.
Midfielders: Kizito Keziron, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Miya Faruku, Hassan Wasswa, Ntege Ivan, Kizza Martin and Olaki Ronald Francis.
Forwards: Sentongo Robert, Erisa Ssekisambu, Kalanda Frank, Serunkuma Geoffrey and Ceaser Samson Okhuti.
At the last edition in 2018 in Morocco, which had teams like Mauritania, Guinea, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Zambia, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville, the Cranes put up another poor show in Group B managing only a draw out of three games and one goal.
Uganda 0-0 Cote D’Ivoire, Uganda 1-3 Zambia (Derrick Nsibambi 40’), Uganda 0-1 Namibia.
The Coach Sebastien Desabre assembled the following players;
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga, Benjamin Ochan, Saidi Keni
Defenders: Nicholas Wakiro Wadada, Joseph Nsubuga, Isaac Muleme, Aggrey Madoi, Timothy Dennis Awanyi , Seif Batte, Bernard Muwanga (C), Mustapha Mujuzi, Mustapha Kiiza
Midfielders: Tadeo Lwanga, Tom Masiko, Ibrahim Saddam Juma, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Milton Karisa, Abubaker Kasule, Allan Kyambadde, Paul Mucureezi, Rahmat Senfuka, Moses Waiswa
Strikers: Derrick Nsibambi, Shaban Muhammad, Nelson Senkatuka.
The writer, Joseph is the Editor – in - Chief of www.sportznow.ug an online local sports news agency owned by Sportz Now Media Limited.
