Uganda have suffered a huge blow after Joseph Ochaya and Gavin Kizito were released from camp after picking injuries during their friendly against DR Congo on Wednesday.
The Cranes suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Congolese team now handled by former Uganda head coach Sebastian Desabre in the build-up contest at Japoma Stadium in Douala Cameroon, and later it emerged they will miss the services of Ochaya and Kizito in their next assignment.
Uganda are preparing to take on Algeria in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the same venue on Sunday but according to coach Milutin Sredojevic, the aforementioned player will not be available for selection as they have been released from camp.
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“We are too late to make any replacements. We are having 21 players, 18 field players, and three goalkeepers that are ready for the Sunday game,” Sredojevic said as quoted by the Fufa website, adding: “The biggest benefit of today’s game is that we have saved Khalid Aucho, who played the Tanzanian Cup on Monday and won. He just arrived today. We didn’t want to use him and take risks.”
He added: “Due to the injuries, there is no match that is bigger than the players. Injuries at the level call for medical team advice. We shall send them back to their respective clubs in Egypt for recovery. We shall use 18 field players and three goalkeepers.
“I know that we are carrying on our shoulders so many expectations. I want to take all the pressure away from players. I want them to come and show what they are capable of because we are playing an early final of the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast against a top-class team, Algeria on Sunday.”
On the defeat to Congo, Sredojevic said: “When you look at everything, I am very happy everyone gave their best. We have some hidden cards that we are looking to unleash on Sunday. In other words, we are trying, testing, and experimenting in the friendly match with the material face of the Uganda Cranes that we shall see on Sunday when we are going in direct competition to fight for our lives, to fight for the points against Algeria.”