KCCA Midfielder Gift Ali ‘Gutted’ By Cranes Snub

Gift Ali admits he was “gutted” not to have been included in the Uganda Cranes provisional squad for the 2020 Africa Nations Championship.

Cranes coach Johnny McKinstry again snubbed dependable Ali when naming 34-man provisional squad on Thursday.

McKinstry’s frontline ten midfielders in the absence of many regulars was not a surprise. However, the selection of URA’s inexperienced Shafik Kagimu seems risky for a tournament format.

“I was disappointed but then respect to the technical team because they know who is best at what and from the players they called, I think they deserve it,” Ali is quoted by Kawowo Sports.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “The disappointment part is part of the game, you win some, you lose some but the door remains open, I know I will be summoned one day.   [/perfectpullquote]

“As a player, the dream is to represent my country. For me to attain that, I really have to work hard but it’s not up to me to call the team.”

Stranger than Ali’s omission from the senior Cranes training camp for the last 2020 CHAN qualifier against Burundi was that he also was not included in Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi.

Ali, with experience and form, could even push for a first-team place during the next 2021 AFCON qualifiers, though he last featured for the national team two years ago.

Uganda have been drawn in Group C alongside Morocco, Togo and East African neighbours Rwanda.

Their first match will be against Rwanda on April 6 before playing the Hawks four days later, and the final match against Morocco on April 14.

Before travelling to Cameroon, they will face Mali and Zambia in a three-nation tournament that will take place 17th -21st March 2020 in Kampala.