KAMPALA: As the road to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) heats up, Uganda’s national football team, The Cranes, are preparing for two crucial qualifiers against South Africa and Congo Brazzaville. The team, led by Coach Paul Put, will first travel to Johannesburg for a showdown with South Africa on September 6, before returning to Kampala to host Congo Brazzaville on September 9.
Coach Put announced his 28-man squad during a press conference at FUFA House, Mengo, on Tuesday morning (August 27). The selection reflects a blend of experience and fresh talent, as The Cranes look to secure their place in the continental tournament. The squad is set to begin training on Thursday, starting with the home-based players, as confirmed by FUFA communications director, Ahmed Hussein Marsha.
One of the most exciting additions to the squad is 21-year-old striker Calvin Kabuye, who plies his trade in Sweden with Sandvikens IF. Kabuye, a new face in the national setup, is expected to bring energy and a goal-scoring threat as he competes for a starting role against the established attacking duo of Shaban Muhammad and Rogers Mato.
The Cranes are coming off a mixed bag of results in their recent qualifiers. They suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Algeria in June at Namboole Stadium, a result that highlighted the need for improvement. However, the team had previously shown resilience with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana at the same venue.
As Uganda gears up for these pivotal matches, the team will be looking to capitalize on home advantage against Congo Brazzaville while aiming for a strong performance on the road in South Africa. With a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, The Cranes are determined to keep their AFCON 2025 hopes alive and make the nation proud.