KAMPALA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is taking nothing for granted as it prepares to face off with Egypt in the 2018 World Cup qualifier scheduled for Aug. 31.
The seven-time African champion Egypt currently top the group after picking a 2-1 win over Congo Brazzaville and a 2-0 victory over Ghana.
Uganda, who is second in the group, beat Congo Brazzaville 1-0 and drew goalless away with the Black Stars of Ghana.
Victory for Uganda on Aug. 31 will send them top of the table before the return leg on Sept. 5 in Alexandria.
To ensure a win, Uganda is banking on the services of the assistant coach of America's New York Red Bulls II Ibrahim Sekagya and Matia Lule to reinforce the technical team.
Sekagya, a former skipper of Uganda's national team, played professional football in Argentina, Austria and the United States for New York Red Bulls before retiring in 2014.
"We believe the new additions will be of great value to the team," Uganda FA spokesperson Ahmed Hussein told Xinhua on Thursday.
The additions were as a result of a request by the national team coach Moses Basena to be beefed up. Basena is new on the job after his predecessor Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic terminated his services three weeks ago over delayed payment of arrears.
Basena on Wednesday named a 27-man squad that will be captained by goalkeeper and reigning African Footballer of the year (African based) Denis Onyango.
"We have considered several aspects before naming this team. We believe this is a strong team to counter the opposition," said Basena.
Senior player Hassan Wassawa Mawanda told Xinhua that they have unfinished business because they lost to Egypt at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon.
"We need to prove a point," added the assistant captain.
In their last meeting, Egypt pipped Uganda 1-0 during a group game at the Afcon.
Egypt last featured at the 1990 World Cup, and Uganda has never been at the high profile competition.
