KCCA winger Shafik Nana Kwikiriza participated in the Uganda Cranes’ final training session at Lugogo, putting to rest some concerns about his fitness.
Head coach Paul Joseph Put had hinted at injury worries surrounding the youngster, but Kwikiriza’s full participation was a positive surprise.
The former BUL player, a regular in Uganda’s squad throughout the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, is widely regarded as one of Put’s favored wingers from the local league.
With the squad set to be trimmed from 36 to 26 players, all eyes are on whether Kwikiriza will make the final cut for CHAN 2024.
Meanwhile, his teammate Sadat Anaku missed yet another session, raising doubts about his inclusion in the final squad.
In other setbacks, Vipers captain Milton Karisa is ruled out of the tournament due to a two-month injury, while Denis Omedi and Hakim Kiwanuka were disqualified after moving to a foreign club, APR in Rwanda.
To fill the gaps, KCCA’s Usama Arafat and URA’s Ivan Ahimbisibwe were added to the squad, and their fate will also be revealed in the final announcement.
The CHAN tournament, delayed from 2024, will be hosted in East Africa for the first time, serving as a precursor to the region’s hosting of AFCON 2027.
Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya will co-host the championship from February 1–28, 2025.
Group stage draws are scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, in Nairobi.
The stage is set, and the Uganda Cranes’ final squad announcement is eagerly awaited.
Will Kwikiriza’s resilience earn him a spot in the team?
