体坛英语新闻：Uganda names squad ahead of 2018 World Cup qualifier

KAMPALA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Uganda Cranes head coach on Thursday named his squad ahead of a 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Togo on Nov. 12.

"We are going to work hard because this is a very important step as we battle to qualify for the group stage of the qualifiers," Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic told reporters.

The Cranes are targeting a good result away before the return leg on Nov. 15. The winner of the two legs will qualify for the group stage of the qualifiers.

Sredojevic said he has left out some players because they have not been active with their clubs while others are having poor form.

South African based players Geoffrey Massa and goalkeeper Dennis Onyango are part of the team, while Yasser Mugerwa who joined another South African top side Orlando Pirates two months ago and unsettled Brian Majwega have not been invited.

Last year the Cranes lost to Togo by the same 1-0 score in Kampala and Lome in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to charter a plane to fly the team and some fans to Lome and return in time for the return leg after 79 hours.

From the Council for East and Central African Football region who will battle in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Tanzania will face Algeria, Kenya take on Cape Verde Islands, while Libya battle Rwanda.

Burundi will also take on Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan face Zambia and Ethiopia host Congo Brazzaville.