Kampala: Uganda will have several build up games in Dubai ahead of their return to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 39 years, it has been reported.
Uganda head coach Milutin Sredojevic told Xinhua in an interview on Monday that they plan to have matches with top teams and also use the better training facilities to prepare for the continent’s biggest football event.
The competition will be held in Gabon, West Africa from January 14 until February 5.
Uganda qualified for the 2017 AFCON after beating Comoros 1-0 last month to break the near four-decade jinx. The Cranes last appeared in the competition in 1978 when they lost 2-0 to hosts Ghana in the final.
Uganda, who will be based in Port Gentil during the AFCON competition in Gabon, are grouped alongside Egypt, Ghana and Mali.
Uganda are the only country from the Council for East and Central African Football Associations region to qualify for the 2017 competition.
The Federation of Uganda Football Association, the country’s football governing body, has submitted a budget of $1 million to the government that will be used to cater for the camp in Dubai and the general expenses during the AFCON competition, it was reported.
