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2025 Afcon Qualifiers: South Africa vs Uganda Cranes Match Preview
- 2025 Afcon Qualifiers | Thursday, September 5, 2024
- South Africa vs Uganda - Orlando stadium, 7:00 pm (EAT)
Uganda Cranes and South Africa Bafana Bafana will renew acquaintances as the two sides start the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in a Group K clash.
The Friday match at the Orlando stadium in Johannesburg will be the first competitive encounter between the two countries since the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.
South Africa, winners of AFCON in 1996, come into the game as favourites but Paul Put’s Uganda Cranes, aiming to get back to the finals for the first time since 2019, will be out to get a bright start to the campaign.
Uganda missed qualifying for the 2023 Afcon as they finished third in their group with seven points, one point behind Tanzania, who qualified alongside Algeria and a good start will be key for Put's men.
The Cranes go into the game on the back of a 2-1 home defeat by Algeria in the World Cup qualifiers but had beaten Botswana 1-0 before.
Past Meetings
The Cranes have faced Bafana Bafana four times since their first meeting in 2004.
Uganda has lost on all four occasions, three in regulation time while the other was via penalties in the COSAFA Cup in 2019.
Uganda Cranes Squad
Goalkeepers: Isima Watenga (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago (Venda FC, South Africa)
Defenders: Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), James Begisa (URA FC, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (FC Sloven Liberec, Czech Republic), Joseph Ochaya (Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, Egypt), Bevis Mugabi (Famagusta Anorthosis, Greece), Elio Capradossi (Unattached), Halid Lwaliwa (Al Ain, Saudi Arabia), Arnold Odongo (SC Villa, Uganda), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Kenneth Semakula (Club Africaine, Tunisia)
Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Yanga Africans, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin II FC, USA), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt), Saidi Mayanja (KCCA FC, Uganda)
Forwards: Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Joackiam Ojera (Al Mokawloon Al Arab Sc, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (Al Hilal Benghazi, Libya), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania), Calvin Kabuye (Sandvikens IF, Sweden), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Rogers Mato (FC Brera Strumica, North Macedonia)
The cranes looks strong but it’s a must win for the Bafana Bafana given that they’re home and again the Cranes don’t perform well on away games.
Well done UGANDA CRANES CONTINGENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.The trusti have in PAUL PUT and the confidence enlightened by the players and management may help us put down BAFANA BAFANA at their home ground in South Africa.
Crane’s team looks to be good this time round, but they’ll need to put in much efforts to defeat bafana bafana, given the home advantage.