The ten Uganda Premier League players on Uganda Cranes final team

On Thursday morning, Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic announced the 23-man squad that will face Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier match slated for June 18 in Cameroon.

The team is expected to travel to Cameroon on Friday ahead of the must-win encounter, and Micho made some tough calls in the group, dropping some big names.

Goalkeeper Ismail Watenga, defenders Musa Ramathan and Hilary Mukundane, midfielders Moses Opondo, Bright Anukani and Allan Okello, and striker Charles Bbaale are some of the names excluded from the trip to West Africa.

Of the 23 named, ten players ply their trade in the Startimes Uganda Premier League, probably highlighting the level at which the league is.

In the goalkeeping department, URA custodian Nafian Alionzi has cemented his place in the squad and is maintained by Micho.

It is, however, not expected that Alionzi will start ahead of Salim Jamal or even Charles Lukwago.

The two are ahead of the URA captain, and he is expected to remain an understudy for now.

The league’s best goalkeeper from the recently concluded season was Simon Tamale of Maroons, but he did not get a look in from the start.

Fred, Semakula, in

The SC Villa duo of Gift Fred and Kenneth Semakula made the cut. The two formed a good partnership at the back for Villa as the record league winners put up a fight in the league.

Whereas Fred is just finding his footing in the Cranes set up, Semakula has become a mainstay.

Semakula is a typical Micho player and has been employed in different positions by the Serb on different occasions.

Whether he will be selected as a right back, centre back, or midfielder remains to be seen, but Micho has shown absolute trust in the versatile player before.

KCCA FC’s Geoffrey Wasswa and Vipers’ Rogers Torach are the other locally-based defenders selected by Micho.

There is no place for Hilary Mukundane, one of the season’s best defenders locally.

Mutyaba in, Okello out

It is in the midfield department that Micho made some big decisions. Summoning Sweden-based midfielder Moses Opondo and dropping him raises debate on whether he is simply not good enough for the Cranes.

But there are other outstanding players that have been dropped. Allan Okello and Bright Anukani, two of the most gifted playmakers in Uganda, will watch the match from the comfort of their homes.

Micho has selected hard-tackling Vipers’ anchorman Siraje Sentamu and KCCA’s Moses Waiswa in the midfield department.

Karisa in

Vipers captain Milton Karisa is one of the three forwards selected by Micho for the job in Cameroon.

Fresh from scoring the goal that handed Vipers the Stanbic Uganda Cup trophy, Karisa returns to the team after missing the double-header with Tanzania.

Rogers Mato and Travis Mutyaba are the others selected to complete the predominantly foreign-based team.

Mato scored the goal the kept Uganda in the race for a place in the finals and there were no doubts he would make the cut.

UPL top scorer Allan Kayiwa and Villa’s Charles Bbaale did not do enough to impress Micho.

UPL players on Cranes team

Nafian Alionzi (URA)

Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa)

Gift Fred (SC Villa)

Geoffrey Wasswa (KCCA)

Rogers Torach (Vipers)

Siraje Sentamu (Vipers)

Moses Waiswa (KCCA)

Milton Karisa (Vipers)

Rogers Mato (KCCA)

Travis Mutyaba (SC Villa)