Uganda Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovich has left out three players as the team left on Sunday morning to Egypt for AFCON Qualifiers.

Gaddafi goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa, defenders Derrick Ndahiro (URA) and Geoffrey Wasswa (KCCA) are the players that are staying home.

The trio were part of the initial provisional squad that was summoned earlier to start preparations for the Tanzania double header.

But the Uganda Hippos trio of Rogers Torach, Travis Mutyaba and Rogers Mugisha have made the travelling squad.

The preparations started with a Regional tour match against Kitara which the Cranes lost 2-0 in Bundibugyo on Friday.

Goalkeeper Charles Lukwago (St George Ethiopia) and Defender Halid Lwaliwa (Bregalnica, Macedonia) are the two foreign-based players who featured in that game and have made the squad.

The other foreign based players will join the team in Egypt.

Uganda Cranes will host Tanzania in Egypt on March 24th at Suez Canal Authority Stadium.

The return leg will be held four days later at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The Cranes started their campaign with a 2-0 loss away to Algeria before a 1-1 draw with Niger at Kitende back in June last year.

And they sit bottom of Group F with just a point, and they are eyeing at least four points from the double-header against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars to resurrect qualification chances.

The top two teams will qualify for the AFCON due next year in January in Ivory Coast.

After the Tanzania double-header, the Cranes host Algeria in June before ending the campaign with an away game against Niger

Players that travelled from Kampala

Goalkeepers
Alionzi Nafian (URA FC, Uganda), Lukwago Charles (St. George, Ethiopia)

Defenders
Torach Rogers (Vipers SC, Uganda), Begisa James Penz (URA FC, Uganda), Mulondo Livingstone (Vipers SC, Uganda), Lwaliwa Halidi (FK Bregalnica, North Macedonia), Semakula Kenneth (SC Villa, Uganda)

Midfielders
Ssentamu Siraje (Vipers SC, Uganda), Okello Allan (KCCA FC, Uganda), Mugisha Rogers (UPDF FC, Uganda)

Forwards
Mato Rogers (KCCA FC, Uganda), Mutyaba Travis (SC Villa, Uganda)

Players that will Connect Direct to Egypt

Goalkeeper
Magoola Salim Omar (Richards Bay FC, South Africa)

Defenders
Kizito Gavin (Al Ittihad Alexandria SC, Egypt), Kayondo Abdu Aziizi (CD Leganes, Spain), Awany Timothy (SC Ironi Ashdod, Israel)

Midfielders
Aucho Khalid (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Byaruhanga Bobosi (Austin FC, USA), Sserwadda Steven (New York Red Bull II, USA), Mugulusi Isma (Makedonikos FC, Greece), Miya Farouk (Caykur Rizerspor, Turkey)

Forwards
Okwi Emmanuel (Erbil SC, Iraq), Ochaya Joseph (Al Makawdoon Al Arab SC, Egypt), Mukwala Steven (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Bayo Fahad (MFK, Vyskov, Czech Republic), Basangwa Richard (Wadi Degla SC, Egypt), Anaku Sadat (Dundee United FC, Scotland)