Uganda Rugby Cranes player Marvin Odongo has been ruled out of the remaining three 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup games after picking a bad face injury in Nairobi last weekend.
"It is unfortunate Odongo needs surgery to his fractured nose and jaw. He is admitted at Nairobi Hospital awaiting surgery," Ramzy Olinga, chief executive officer of the Uganda Rugby Union (URU), told KweséESPN on Monday.
Odongo was part of the Uganda team that lost 38-22 to Kenya Simbas in Nairobi. Uganda Rugby Cranes have now been defeated by table-leaders Namibia and Kenya before they host Tunisia, Morocco and Zimbabwe.
"We are doing everything possible to make sure Odongo gets the surgery done. It is unfortunate for him, but rugby is a contact sport and sometimes some of these injuries cannot be avoided," added Olinga.
Commenting on the second defeat in the Gold Cup/ World Cup qualifier, Uganda coach John Duncan said that their chances of direct qualification for the World Cup are gone. They will now need to try and finish second to gain entrance through the global repechage.
"That [qualifying for the World Cup] was obviously one of the goals. We control our destiny [and] we didn't get there, but at the end of the day we are still a good team. It's a pleasure to coach these boys but [at] the end of the day it's not the result we wanted.
"If you play a good team and allow them to get 31 points it's going to be a tough challenge. I am very proud of the boys for fighting their way back to the challenge ... they stuck to the plan which I am very happy about," said Duncan.
Namibia still lead the standings with 15 points, while Kenya have 12. Uganda's next game will be against Tunisia on 4 August, in what will be their first home game of the season.