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Chan 2021: how Uganda could line up against Rwanda at the Stade de la Réunification

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Cranes starting eleven versus rwanda

The Chan 2021 tournament kicked-off on Saturday, the 16th January 2021, with hosts Cameroon and Mali winning their first encounters with Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso respectively on the opening day.

The second day of the tournament had D.R. Congo overcoming neighbours Congo Brazaville, while Libya and Niger played out to the tournament’s first draw.

The Chan action continues tonight with Group C were defending champions Morocco face Togo before the Uganda Cranes take on Rwanda in what could be defined as an emotional reunion for Jonathan McKinstry who will be facing his former employers at the Stade de Unification in Douala.

Here we draw our attention on the Cranes who will be playing their opening game of the tournament with high hope of making it past the group stages.

A 25-man squad was announced January 7th and the fight for starting positions looks very tight this time around. But who could start for Cranes tonight? The Touchline Sports’ Henry Peter Mutebi gives a sneak peek into how Cranes the Cranes could line up tonight.

1. Charles Lukwago | KCCA FC

The KCCA FC skipper is expected to start in between the posts of the four goalkeepers who were listed for the tournament (including Nafian Alionzi, Joel Mutakubwa and Thomas Ikara). While Alionzi had been more consistent ahead of the tournament, Charles Lukwago makes the cut due to the experience and abilities acquired over time with the national team.

We expect McKinstry to consider the former Proline striker as number one tonight against Rwanda.

2. Paul Willa | Vipers SC

We expect the Vipers defender to start at the Right back considering his consistency time at the national team. Willa may not have been so colourful at Vipers for the first three games of the season but the former Police FC right-back still has what it takes to help the Cranes achieve their purpose in defence.

Willa has already featured in the position for the cranes during the CHAN qualifiers and we expect McKinstry to keep the status quo tonight.

3. Aziz Kayondo | Vipers SC

Kayondo was instrumental for the Under 20 who triumphed in Tanzania and qualified for the U20 AFCON. He was also instrumental for Vipers last season, helping them to their fourth Uganda Premier League title after taking over form Farouk Musisi at the position.

He has not played many games this season after missing out on the first two for his club while on duty with the U20 team, but his feat against Busoga united was enough to guarantee him a starting place at left-back.

We expect him to slot in for Mustafa Kizza who moved on to the MLS to play for Montreal impact.

4. Denis Inguma | KCCA FC

KCCA FC’s new central defender should partner team captain Halid Lwaliwa at the heart of the defence. Iguma joined KCCA FC after sitting out the previous season with a long term injury but has returned a much better player, featuring in all of  KCCA FC’s games and scoring a goal against Mbarara City on matchday three of the season at Lugogo.

Before the injury, Iguma was already in the National team and going by his experience, he should be selected ahead of any the other central defenders.

5. Halid Lwaliwa | Vipers SC

The Vipers and Cranes skipper needs no introduction at all. While many might criticise him for being too quiet as a leader especially at Club level, Lwaliwa has at least attained a level of responsibility over the time and should have no competition for a place in the team.

He inspired Uganda past South Sudan in the recently concluded AFCON qualifiers and maybe his leadership style meets the manager’s approval. Can the chosen captain start on the bench anyway?

6. Tonny Mawejje | Police FC

We are expecting the Irish man to put the veteran midfielder in the middle of Park to patrol the Midfield. While he may not possess the steam as he did a few years ago, but his return to Police FC and his contribution to their performance at the start of the season is just an assurance that he has something to add to the team.

He still has a lot of experience in his legs and we expect the rookies to learn a lot from his guidance while on the pitch.

Just like Iguma, Mckinstry has a lot to depend on the former Villa midfielder, given the experience, he has amassed while playing for the Cranes at different tournaments.

7. Watambala Karim | Vipers SC

While many questions might arise as to why he gets a node ahead of the other players better suited to start in the team, the Vipers SC attacking midfielder is fancied by the Irishman and has a lot of hope in the youngster. It is inevitable not to have him in the starting line-up.

Watambala featured for the Uganda U20 that won the AFCON/CECAFA zonal qualifiers in Tanzania and returned to feature for Vipers in their last game against Busoga United while still on the heat.

The Cranes gaffer is a big fan of the talented midfielder and it is the same manager who handed him his senior national team debut against South Sudan at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

The youngster also put up a good show in the just concluded CECAFA senior challenge cup.

It would be unjust for a manager to show trust in a player and not start them against a side he knows very well. With no doubt, we expect in the Midfield

8. Bright Anukani | KCCA FC

A player who is able to give a team more than one dimension of the game, Jonathan McKinstry should find a gap where to fix the former Proline playmaker.

Bright Anukani is a player with lots of abilities and he is capable of earning any team a result at any moment. Currently, the player with the best creativity in the Uganda Premier League, Anukani is also capable of taking on the responsibility to score and has proven that before while featuring for Proline last season. he might have looked a bit rusty while turning out for KCCA FC for the first time against URA, but his ingenuity on the ball and eye for space makes him a better player to start ahead of any other player on the team.

Anukani is also among the crop that helped the Cranes qualify for the Tournament and as well win McKinstry his first silverware as the coach as they defeated Eritrea in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Lugogo.

9. Brian Aheebwa | KCCA FC

Undoubtedly the most in-form player in the squad and in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, Brian Aheebwa has scored ten goals in six games in all competitions, in his first season with the KCCA FC.

Aheebwa’s work ethic and ability to create scoring opportunities out of nowhere give him a cut ahead of his competitors in Shaban Muhammad and Ben Ocen.

He should start his first game for the Cranes tonight after showing no laxity on the continent against AS Kigali in the CAF Confederation Cup, scoring three against KCCA FC’s continental nemesis.

10. Vianney Ssekajugo | Wakiso Giants

One of the most experienced players on the national team, Ssekajugo’s ability to create rare opportunities for his club can tell what a character he is and this is what the national team needs.

Considering his competition in Joachim Ojera, while the URA FC winger has speed and creativity on the flanks, Ssekajugo has more than just speed and creativity, adding scoring to his armoury especially due to his shooting range.

He might have sat out for while nursing an injury he suffered last season, but upon return to the set-up at Wakiso Giants, his heroics helped coach Bamweyana claim a point against defending champions Vipers at the Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium in the StarTimes UPL.

One of the remaining players that spurred the Cranes to the CECAFA Senior challenge cup triumph as well as the qualification to the tournament, he was also instrumental in the Cranes mini-tournament feat in Cameroon.

11. Milton Karisa | Vipers SC

Another of darlings Irishman, Jonathan McKinstry’s darlings, Milton Karisa has shown signs of a new spark considering his performance in the recently concluded pre-chan mini-tournament.

Karisa’s creativity coupled with scoring abilities have proven lethal and should be ready to start for the Cranes after a long-while.

How to watch:

StarTimes recently acquired rights to broadcast the Chan 2021 tournament and we are sure of the game to be live on StarTimes Sports Focus.

CHAN 2021: McKinstry speaks out on emotional attachment to Rwanda ahead of Monday meeting

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