KCCA Football Club forward Emmanuel Anyama may be a newcomer to the national team setup, but he is not short on ambition, or confidence.
Fresh from being named in the final 25-man Uganda Cranes squad for the upcoming 2024 CHAN tournament, the striker is already setting his sights on delivering goals for his country.
“This is my first time on the national team and I am really grateful. The fans and everyone in the country can expect as many goals from me as can push the team to the next stage,” he told NBS Sport during Monday’s training session at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
Anyama’s selection was one of the notable inclusions in a squad that blends established players with fresh talent.
His performances at KCCA, which saw him net 7 goals in 10 appearances last season, and his blistering pace, intelligent positioning, and an instinct for goal, have earned him the national call-up at a critical moment in Uganda’s football journey.
Uganda is in Group C alongside continental heavyweights Algeria, Guinea, Niger, and South Africa.
The Cranes seek to advance past the group stage for the first time in CHAN history, and the injection of hungry talent like Anyama could prove decisive.
The team’s build-up to the tournament has included stints at Luzira Prisons Grounds and a CECAFA Three Nations outing in Arusha, Tanzania.
After falling to Tanzania 1-0 in a friendly, Uganda bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Senegal; a result that boosted team morale ahead of the tournament.
Under the skippership of Allan Okello, and with Head Coach Morley Byekwaso and assistant Fred Muhumuza steering tactical preparations, Uganda is leaving no stone unturned in their quest for a breakthrough campaign.
For Anyama, CHAN represents more than just a debut, but an opportunity to announce himself on the continental stage and etch his name into Ugandan football folklore.
And if his confidence translates into goals, Uganda might just be primed for a memorable run on home soil.
