Uganda Rugby Cranes will battle for fifth place in the 2024 men’s Rugby Africa Cup without talisman Philip Wokorach.
This is the biggest change to the matchday squad in which four of the fifteen who started the previous match against Burkina Faso are either out entirely or among the substitutes.
Wokorach’s omission is due to a groin injury. It is worth recalling that Wokorach played the previous match against Burkina Faso with a strapped thigh. Nonetheless, he scored a try, converted one, and kicked two penalties as Uganda won by 25-15 points.
In addition to Wokorach, Uganda will miss the services of Faragi Odugo and Eliphaz Emong (both rested) in the fifth-place playoff against Senegal on Sunday afternoon.
Their unavailability has necessitated a round of changes in the lineup.
Uganda Rugby Cranes Squad vs Senegal:
- Starting: 1 Santos Senteza, 2 Nathan Bwambale, 3 Asuman Mugerwa, 4 Charles Uhuru, 5 Robert Aziku, 6 Mark Omoding, 7 Byron Oketayot, 8 Alex Aturinda, 9 Conrad Wanyama, 10 Ivan Magomu, 11 Joseph Oyet, 12 Joseph Aredo, 13 Innocent Gwokto, 14 Shakim Ssembusi, 15 Timothy Kisiga.
- Substitutes: 16 Jude Jjuuko, 17 Mike Otto, 18 Saul Kivumbi, 19 Julius Opio, 20 Brian Wandera, 21 Sydney Gongodyo, 22 Pool Kalungi, 23 Arnold Ocen.
Robert Aziku starts on the second row and Mark Omoding is on the blindside flank. Timothy Kisiga switches from the wing to full-back and Joseph Oyet slots into the blindside wing.
Jude Jjuuko will make his first appearance in the tournament as the replacement hooker in a 6-2 bench split. Arnold Ocen, the youngest player in camp and a Ugandan international from the 2023 Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy, is set to make his senior Rugby Cranes debut off the bench.
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