Uganda to camp in Dubai before AFCON 2017

Uganda's national men's football team will have several build up games in Dubai ahead of their return to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 39 years.

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 camping facilities to prepare for the continent's biggest football event to be held in Gabon, West Africa.

Uganda qualified for the 2017 AFCON after beating Comoros 1-0 last month to break the 39-year jinx. The Cranes had 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 is the only country from the Council for East and Central African Football Associations region to qualify for the 2017 AFCON scheduled to start early next year.

The Federation of Uganda Football Association, the country's football governing body has submitted a budget of one million US dollars to the government that will be used to cater for the camp in Dubai and the general expenses during the Afcon competition.

--IANS

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