Colorado Rapids’ versatile midfielder Mike Azira has joined the Uganda men’s national football team ahead of the much awaited Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Gabon.
Besides Azira, team captain Geoffrey Massa and Khalid Aucho all from Baroka FC in South Africa also took part in day seven of the residential training on Tuesday at the Islamic University In Uganda in Kabojja.
Robert Odongkara, Yassar Mugerwa, Moses Oloya, William Kizito Luwagga will join the team in Tunis and Belgium based Faruku Miya flies to Kampala n Wednesday. Fufa Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein confirms 26 players set to travel to the Tunisia and Dubai training camps.
Mike Azira made his Uganda Cranes debut in a World Cup Qualifier against Congo Brazaville in which he put up a stand out performance– coming on for a tired Tony Mawejje – the US-based player promises to impress national team coach Sredejovic ‘Micho, Milutin more.
The 29-year-old says playing with the likes of Godfrey Walusimbi, Robert Odongkara and Denis Onyango at Villa and national youth teams gave him confidence to fit in the national team right away.
Micho has not hidden his plans for Azira in the World Cup and Afcon engagements. “He is a special player and we have special family relationships,” Micho told Daily Monitor recently.
READ: Azira set for Uganda Cranes game after dumping Steven Gerrad’s LA Galaxy
AFCON 2017 GROUP D FIXTURES
Jan 17: Ghana vs Uganda
Jan 17: Mali vs Egypt
Jan 21: Ghana vs Mali
Jan 21: Egypt vs Uganda
Jan 25: Egypt vs Ghana
Jan 25: Uganda vs Mali
