KAMPALA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Uganda head coach Morley Byekwaso has named his final squad ahead of the regional Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) U23 Challenge Cup in Ethiopia.
Byekwaso's team was drawn in Group A with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
The tournament, which comprises nine teams, will run from July 18 to 31 in the town of Bahir Dar.
"We are in a tough group, but we need to play every game with a lot of caution. The boys have prepared well and the two international friendly matches we played away to Saudi Arabia have also helped us," Byekwaso told Xinhua before the team traveled to Ethiopia on Wednesday.
New team captain Enock Walusimbi says his teammates are determined to lift the trophy.
"We have worked really hard and the team is determined to bring the trophy back home. Yes we respect the other teams in the tournament, but we are going to play our hearts out," said Walusimbi.
Striker Derrick Kakooza who was one of the top scorers when Uganda finished second in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations U20 tournament, and said he is determined to score goals that will propel Uganda to the latter stages of the event.
The competition will also feature Eritrea, Djibouti, Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan and hosts Ethiopia.
The top finisher in each group and the best second-placed finisher will qualify for the semifinals.
Uganda squad in full: Charles Lukwago, Saidi Keni, Dennis Otim, Enock Walusimbi, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, George Kaddu, Musa Ramathan, Kenneth Ssemakula, Peter Magambo, Gavin Kizito, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Abdul Karim Watambala, Steven Sserwadda, Bright Anukani, Salim Abdallah, Stephen Mukwala, Ivan Bogere, Saddam Masereka, Julius Poloto, Najib Yiga, Hakim Kiwanuka, Derrick Kakooza, and Samuel Ssenyonjo. Enditem
