Uganda and Congo Brazzaville will be meeting for the fifth time in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Monday, September 9.
It’s eight years down the road from when the Cranes and Red Devils last met in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
We take a look at the Uganda Cranes squad to see which players were part of the squad when the two sides drew 1-1 in Congo in November 2017 and are also part of Paul Joseph Put’s current team.
It’s important to note that only three players are still surviving from the squad that was named by then interim head coach Moses Basena.
Goalkeeper Isma Watenga leads this trio. He may not have played as much previously with Denis Onyango standing tall but it’s now his time to shine.
Isaac Muleme and Timothy Awany are the other two players who were then playing for Uganda Premier League giants KCCA.
Muleme was an unused substitute against South Africa, whereas Awany didn’t travel, with reports suggesting that he was injured, while there are also reports of him having visa issues.
Surprisingly, the Cranes’ current captain, Khalid Aucho, wasn’t part of that squad, but it’s worth noting that he was in the starting lineup a year before when Uganda edged Congo 1-0 through Farouk Miya’s goal at Namboole in November 2016.
Joseph Ochaya and Muhammad Shaban were also part of the squad in 2016 but were dropped for the second leg in 2017 and are currently with the team.
Ochaya was introduced with 10 minutes to spare against South Africa while Shaban suffered a knock during the last training.
After managing a point against Bafana Bafana, the CECAFA powerhouse will be hoping to garner their first three points in Group K.
Their opponents on Monday is the only team that has won a game in the group after edging South Sudan 1-0 in Congo on Thursday.
