Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named Uganda Cranes Starting XI to take on Botswana in tonight’s Fifa World Cup Qualifier at Mandela National Stadium – Namboole.

Isma Watenga starts in goal for the first time in this qualifying campaign and will captain the team.

The backline has Elvis Bwomono, Isaac Muleme, Halid Lwaliwa, and Elio Capradossi who will be making his debut for Uganda Cranes.

The midfield will be anchored by SC Villa’s Uganda Premier League-winning pair of Kenneth Ssemakula and Ronald Ssekiganda.

Fahd Bayo and Steven Mukwala lead the search for the goals with support from the creative duo of Travis Mutyaba and Allan Okello

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK)(C) | Elvis Bwomono, Isaac Muleme, Halid Lwaaliwa, Elio Capradossi | Kenneth Ssemakula, Ronald Ssekiganda, Travis Mutyaba, Allan Okello | Fahad Bayo, Steven Mukwala

Substitutes: Nafian Alionzi (GK), Chrispas Kusiima (GK), Rogers Mato, Denis Omedi, Ibrahim Kasule, Shaban Muhammad, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Nicholas Mwere, Ronald Otti, Joel Sserunjogi, Timothy Awany, Umar Lutalo

2026 FIFA World Cup | Fixture

• Friday, June 6, 2024
• Uganda vs Botswana – 7 PM

Uganda Cranes will take on Botswana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Friday night.

It will be an emotional evening for the football faithful in the country as the beautiful game returns to its cathedral.

The Cranes come into the game with three points in two games. Paul Put and his charges will be hoping for a great show to enlighten their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The gaffer revealed that the preparations have been successful and hopes to get the best out of the team.

“We have had good preparations ahead of the upcoming games. I am blessed to work with such a talented group of players, and I hope to get the best out of them,” he noted.

“We have to be a little bit patient with the process because the average age of the team is 23 years. I am confident that the team will grow so that we have a good name in the future,” he added.

“Assembling a team has been a challenge, but we have a strong foundation with 16 dedicated local players despite injuries and delayed arrivals from international players.”

Head to head

In the three games the two sides have met, Uganda Cranes has come out victorious with three wins as Botswana has been on the losing side throughout.

Team News

The Cranes will miss the services of their captain Khalid Aucho due to an injury suffered during a club engagement.

Rogers Mato is also ruled out for the game against Botswana since he will be coming to the country late for the highly anticipated encounter.

As football lovers long for a long return to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, the same excitement and anxiety are shared with players.

Fans’ favourite Travis Mutyaba shared his excitement with FUFA Media, revealing he longs to make his long-awaited Namboole debut count.

“It is every Ugandan footballer’s dream to play at Namboole. I was unfortunate that by the time I got my first cap, the team was hosting away from home,” he stated.

“While I was young, my coach and father took me to Namboole to watch the Uganda Cranes. It was an unforgettable experience because of the players and the atmosphere created by the fans,” he added.

“I am glad that I now have the opportunity to be at Namboole as a player. I am too anxious and can’t wait to share the experience.”

The Cranes are pitted in Group G along Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique and Somalia.

After the two games played, Uganda Cranes have registered one victory and lost one sitting fourth on the log with three points.

Players in Camp

Goalkeepers: Isima Bid Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Crispus Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda), Braddy Jeans Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda)

Defenders: Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Ronald Otto (Bul FC, Uganda), Abdul Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Elio Capradossi (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy), Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia)

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC, USA), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bull II, USA), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt), Carl James Mujaguzi (Athlone Town AFC, Ireland)

Forwards: Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana), Nelson Ssenkatuka ( Soltilo BrightStars, Uganda) Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC, Uganda), Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda)

Uganda Cranes captain Khalid Aucho is ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against Botswana.

The sad announcement was made by Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put in a pre-match conference held at FUFA Complex, Mengo on Thursday morning.

According to the gaffer, the skipper is ruled out of the game tomorrow due to a minor injury.

“Unfortunately, captain (Khalid) Aucho picked up an injury in his last club engagement,” the gaffer stated.

“The doctors assessed him and ruled him out of tomorrow’s game but we hope he can be able to recover in time for the game on Monday,” he added.

In the same breath, Aucho added to the gaffer’s words confirming his injury suffered in the club’s game they faced Azam FC.

“I felt something in my knee after the final against Azam on Sunday but I thought it was minor. When I took a scan, the results were not positive but regardless the coach wanted me to be part of the team,” he said.

“I believe the boys are in the best shape mentally and physically. I believe they will deliver in both games and make Ugandans proud.”

The Cranes are pitted in Group G along Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique and Somalia.

After the two games played, Uganda Cranes have registered one victory and lost one sitting fourth on the log with three points.

Players in Camp

Goalkeepers
Isima Bid Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Crispus Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda), Braddy Jeans Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda)

Defenders
Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Ronald Otto (Bul FC, Uganda), Abdul Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Elio Capradossi (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy), Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia)

Midfielders
Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC, USA), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bull II, USA), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt), Carl James Mujaguzi (Athlone Town AFC, Ireland)

Forwards
Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana), Nelson Ssenkatuka ( Soltilo BrightStars, Uganda) Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC, Uganda), Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda)

Steven Mukwala is eager to impress for Uganda Cranes ahead of the two 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes is to play Botswana and Algeria on Friday, June 7, before they return to action three days respectively later at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Mukwala has been on form at the club, having scored 14 goals, and Ugandans hope that the forward carried along his scoring boots.

Having joined the camp on Tuesday, June 4, the forward will have to impress Paul Put to cut, though he is now focused towards helping his country.

“For now, the focus is on helping my country win, and I hope to carry my form at the club to the national team,” he stated.

“Since day one of my career, it is all about hard work and trying to be consistent, which I have done all my career,” he added.

The former Vipers forward called upon Ugandans to turn up in high numbers to ensure that they give the boys the much-needed ambience.

“I call upon Ugandans to turn up in big numbers. For me, big numbers mean big motivation as they cheer us, so we call upon all Ugandans to come and support us.”

The Cranes are pitted in Group G along Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, and Somalia.

After the two games played, Uganda Cranes registered one victory and lost one sitting fourth on the log with three points.

The Uganda Cranes’ camp received a boost with the arrival of three foreign-based players ahead of their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Steven Mukwala (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bulls II, USA), and Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren, Scotland) reported to the camp on Tuesday morning.

The trio’s arrival strengthens the team’s options, adding two forwards and a defender to the squad as the coach builds a strong Uganda Cranes team.

Uganda is set to play a double-header against Botswana and Algeria at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Friday, June 7th, and Monday, June 10th.

The Cranes are in Group G alongside Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, and Somalia.
After two games played, Uganda Cranes has recorded one win and one loss, currently sitting fourth in the group with three points.

Uganda Cranes will be marking a return to their real home Mandela National Stadium – Namboole after five years when they host Botswana and Algeria in the 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

First, it will be Botswana on Friday, June 7 followed by Algeria on Monday, June 10 with both matches scheduled to kick off at 7:00 pm.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put announced the training squad for the two matches and the team has been in camp since last week.

The last Fifa World Cup Qualifying campaign that Uganda Cranes hosted matches at Namboole was the qualifiers for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, which was played over three rounds.

In this article, we revisit that qualifying campaign during which the Cranes won all but one game played at Namboole.

Uganda joined the qualifiers in the second round when they were drawn against Togo. The West Africans hosted the first leg on 12th November 2015 at Stade de Kégué in Lomé, a match Uganda Cranes won 1-0 thanks to Farouk Miya’s first-half goal.

In the return leg hosted at Namboole on 15th November 2015, the Cranes won 3-0. Geoffrey Massa netted an early opener before Farouk Miya added a first-half brace for Uganda to advance to the third and final qualifying round.

The final qualifying round saw teams drawn into five groups of four whose winner would directly qualify for the global showpiece that was hosted by Russia.

Uganda was drawn into Group E alongside Congo Brazzaville, Egypt and Ghana.

Uganda’s first group game was away to Ghana at Tamale Stadium on 7th October 2016 and they held the West Africans to a goalless draw.

On 12th November 2016, the Cranes hosted Congo at Namboole and Farouk Miya was on target for the only goal of the match.

On 31st August 2017, Uganda hosted Egypt. Like the match against Congo, the Cranes won the match 1-0 but it was Emmanuel Okwi who scored the goal early in the second half. When the Cranes played visitors to Egypt in Alexandria on 5th September 2017, Uganda lost the match 1-0.

The return leg against Ghana at Namboole ended in a goalless draw and before completing the campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Congo in a match Milton Karisa netted the equalizer.

Trivia

1. Name any player on the current Uganda Cranes squad who were part of the 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign.
2. Who scored Uganda Cranes’ goal the last time they played a World Cup Qualifier at Namboole?

Uganda Cranes conducted their first training session at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole for the first time since 2019.

The team currently in a residential camp welcomed Zamalek SC attacker Travis Mutyaba who arrived in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Head coach Paul Put was happy about the day-one performance of his players, saying;

“Today was about touching the ball and gaining confidence. I was a bit surprised it went well because I saw positive things from the new players but the most important thing for us today was to get the confidence on the ball. to play a little bit out of positions.”

Players in Camp

Ronald Otti (BUL FC, Uganda), Chrispas Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Shaban Muhammad (KCCA FC, Uganda), Joel Sserunjoji (KCCA FC, Uganda), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Jeans Braddy Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia), Isima Bin Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Capradossi Elio (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Nelson Senkatuka (Soltilo Bright Stars FC, Uganda) and Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt).

FUFA has revealed the selling centres for tickets to watch upcoming Uganda Cranes matches against Botswana and Algeria.

Uganda Cranes host Botswana on Friday, June 7 and Algeria on Monday, June 10 at Namboole in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with both matches set to kick off at 7:00 pm.

FUFA Executive Committee Member Rogers Byamukama, at a press conference held at Fufa House in Mengo, announced that tickets will be sold at two physical locations that are; Fufa Complex – Mengo and Tangosport – Jinja. Matchday tickets can also be purchased digitally via MTN MoMo and Namboole Online Platform.

Three categories of tickets will go on sale and that is; Ordinary, VIP and Platinum.

For each game, the ticket prices are as follows;

• Ordinary – Ugx 25,000
• VIP – Ugx 50,000
• Platinum – Ugx 100,000

“We want to caution the public that please purchase tickets only at the centres we have announced here to avoid fraud cases.

“The tickets will be ready for sale today (Wednesday, May 29) at 2:00 pm at the four selling centres. However, we are in the process of adding more selling points and we will inform you in due course,” Byamukama said.

According to Fufa, Double Tickets are available for sale and will give fans access to the two games. However, there will be a limited number for this category of tickets.

• Ordinary Double Tickets – Ugx 40,000
• VIP Double Tickets – Ugx 75,000

How to access the Stadium

Fans with Platinum Tickets will access the stadium through the Western Gate which is adjacent to the Main Gate.

According to the FUFA, Platinum Tickets will come with hospitality packages at halftime and a limited number of parking stickers that will be given out on a first-come, first-get basis.

Fans with VIP Tickets will also access the stadium through the Western Gate.

Fans with Ordinary Tickets will access the stadium through Eastern Gate, Southern Gate or Northern Gate depending on the colour of the (physical) ticket.

Blue ticket holders will access the stadium through the Northern Gate, Yellow Ticket holders will access the stadium through the Eastern Gate and Pink Ticket holders will access the stadium through the Southern Gate.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has summoned forward Nelson Ssenkatuka and Ronald Otti ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria.

The duo joins the Uganda Cranes squad as direct replacements for forward Uchechukwu Ikpeazu Mubiru and defender Bevis Mugabi who withdrew from the assignment.

The development was confirmed today Wednesday, May 29 via the official FUFA website.

“Defender Bevis Mugabi and striker Uchechukwu Ikpeazu Mubiru will not take part in the upcoming Uganda Cranes FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers,” the statement partly reads.

According to FUFA, Mugabi who plays for Motherwell FC in Scotland notified Paul Put that he will not be able to make it for the two games.

In the same breath, Mubiru confirmed to the gaffer that he has health challenges that can not allow him to travel to Uganda.

Uganda Cranes is expected to enter a residential camp on Thursday, May 30 at Cranes Paradise Hotel in Kisasi.