Uganda Cranes players Bobosi Byaruhanga and Timothy Awany are still absent from the national football team’s camp ahead of the clash with Congo due to VISA issues.
Uganda Cranes will take on Congo in their second 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier tonight at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole at 7 PM.
Byaruhanga, who plies his trade for Austin FC II in the United States, and Awany, who plays for FC Ashdod in Israel, were both named in head coach Paul Put’s initial 28-man squad but didn’t feature for the Cranes’ clash with South Africa last Friday.
The two will still not be available for tonight’s clash, as they are yet to join the Uganda Cranes squad, and were not available for the team’s light training session that took place yesterday evening.
Notably, midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga was in action for his side Austin FC II just last night, playing the full 90 minutes in their 3-2 loss to Minnesota United 2 in MLS Next Pro.
However, it’s not all bad news for the Cranes. Defenders Halid Lwaliwa and Kenneth Ssemakula, who also missed the team’s opening qualifier against South Africa, successfully joined the camp and participated in the light training session.
Additionally, striker Muhammad Shaban, who was sidelined for the South Africa match due to injury, has returned to training and is expected to be available for selection.
Uganda will be looking to build on their 2-2 draw against South Africa in Pretoria last Friday. A win tonight would propel them to the top of Group K, at least temporarily, pending the outcome of South Africa’s match against South Sudan in Juba tomorrow.
However, their opponents, Congo, enter the match with momentum on their side, having kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory over South Sudan last Thursday.
