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Uganda Cranes finally got off the mark with the first win of the ongoing 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

Rogers Mato’s early strike was the difference as the Cranes edged 10-man Somalia in a game played at Berkane Municipal Stadium on Tuesday.

Somalia had a chance to score in the second minute but Faisal Sadiq’s delivery went narrowly wide. 

Mato finished off a superb counterattack to give Uganda a lead in the fourth minute. Travis Mutyaba released Elvis Bwomono on the right flank who delivered a cross that was controlled by Allan Oyirwoth before setting up Mato.

Mato found himself in the right position to node home and also double Uganda’s lead but his diving header went far from the target. 

Oyirwoth tried a long-range effort from distance but couldn’t find the target by a few inches in the 25th minute. 

With five minutes to play, Mutyaba went through a forest of bodies but his effort using outside the boot went narrowly wide.

Mato remained with a goalkeeper to beat but Mustafa pulled off a stunning save.

In the final minute of the first half, defender Muhammad was dismissed after a rough challenge on Mato, leaving Somalia with only ten men.

Five minutes after restart, Bayo was denied by Mustafa after trying to connect with Mtyaba’s cutback at the near post.

Bobosi Byaruhanga and Umar Lutalo were introduced in the 67th minute to replace Khalid Aucho and Oyirwoth respectively.

In the last minutes of the game, Mato and Mutyaba were tripped in the box but the centre referee waved play-on.

In the 87th minute, Denis Omedi replaced Fahad Bayo to introduce fresh legs upfront.

After playing the 90 minutes, Uganda went away with maximum points in the Crane’s first win under Paul Put.

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK), Elvis Bwomono, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Khalid Aucho (C) (Bobosi Byaruhanga), Allan Oyirwoth (Umar Lutalo), Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo (Denis Omdei), Travis Mutyaba

Uganda Cranes have their heads in front at halftime of the 2016 Fifa World Qualifier match against Somalia.

Rogers Mato finished off a superb counterattack to give Uganda the lead in the fourth minute of the match being played at Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Somalia lost the ball near Uganda’s box and Travis Mutyaba initiated the attack playing Elvis Bomono who whipped in a cross that youngster Oyirwoth controlled and set up Mato for the openner.

The Cranes had two bookings with Aziizi Kayondo and Kenneth Ssemakula was booked for a reckless challenge.

The Cranes were lively throughout the half with Mutyaba coming close in the 42nd minute after slicing through Somalia’s defense while Oyirwoth had a shot fly over the bar earlier.

Mato missed a one-on-one trying to round the goalkeeper with two minutes to halftime.

Somalia were reduced to ten with Abdi Mohamed given marching orders for the second bookable office at the stroke of halftime.

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK), Elvis Bwomono, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Khalid Aucho (C), Allan Oyirwoth, Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Travis Mutyaba

Rising star Allan Oyirwoth has been handed his Uganda Cranes debut as the team takes on Somalia this afternoon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Oyirwoth is among the three changes that have been made for the match that will be played at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Isma Watenga starts in goal ahead of Jamal Salim, Elvis Bomono comes in at right back while Kenneth Ssemukula is moved into midfield in the place of Bobosi Byaruhanga to join skipper Khalid Aucho

Fahad Bayo, Rogers Mato and Travis Mutyaba maintain their places up front while Bevis Mugabi and Halid Lwaliwa will again pair up in the center of defense.

Uganda Cranes XI: Isma Watenga (GK), Elvis Bwomono, Bevis Mugabi, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Kenneth Ssemakula, Khalid Aucho (C), Allan Oyirwoth, Rogers Mato, Fahad Bayo, Travis Mutyaba

The Uganda Senior Nation Team (Uganda Cranes) is set to lock horns with Somalia in the second game of the ongoing FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

The two sides will face off at Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

On Matchday One of the qualifiers, both sides lost their respective games. Uganda fell to Guinea in a 2-1 loss while Somalia lost 3-1 to Algeria. So both will take this fixture seriously as they seek to get off the mark.

In a pre-match conference ahead of the game, Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put revealed that his troops have the right mentality ahead of the game against Somalia.

“The boys are committed and motivated to put up a good game. In this competition there are no easy games because each comes with challenges but we are ready to give it the best,” he noted.

“I am happy with the boys’ mentality. Ahead of Somalia we we have to give out our best game. So we need to get motivated and bring energy so that we battle them out to seal a victory,” he added.

But once again Put asked Ugandans to be patient and support the team because the change and improvement will take some time.

“We need to be patient. It’s been three to four days with the boys, I don’t know them a lot and I feel like there is a lot to accomplish but there is no time. However, we shall keep analyzing the game and the players so we are on the right track.”

Head to head

It’s tied at halftime between Uganda Cranes and Guinea in the 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

The match began slowly with both teams taking their time to build up their attacks from the back.

Guinea had two quick corner kicks, but none of them were converted as Uganda’s defence held up well.

However, Guinea’s Aguibou Camara managed to score in the 10th minute after being assisted by Mohamed Bayo.

Seven minutes later, Uganda had an opportunity to score when Guinea’s midfielder, Toure Abdoulaye, almost scored an own goal from Rogers Mato’s delivery.

Fahad Bayo equalized for Uganda with a quick tap-in from close range after Guinea’s goalkeeper, Ibrahim Kone, failed to deal with Halid Lwaliwa’s header at the half-hour mark.

Four minutes before the end of the first half, Guinea made a lovely attack, but Bayo’s touch off Julian Jeanvier’s cut went directly to Salim Magoola’s palms.

Uganda Cranes XI: Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Semakula, Bevis Mugabi, Halidi Lwaliwa, Aziizi Kayondo, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Khalid Aucho (C), Milton Karisa, Rogers Mato, Travis Mutyaba, Fahad Bayo

Paul Put’s reign at the helm of Uganda Cranes will fully get underway in the game against Guinea on Friday evening.

The two sides will be meeting in the first game of the FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco.

During the pre-match press conference, Put revealed that the players are working hard to see that they respond and fly the flag so high.

“I am prepared and we have been doing everything possible. It’s been a good response from the players, they are working so hard with a lot of concentration and discipline. These are the things we need to see in the game,” Put noted.

“Guinea are a strong team, they have a number of players playing professional football but we do not see it from the value that they possess. We are going to try and work. We have different targets and we shall try to achieve all of them,” he added.

“I still have an assignment to know my players and that will take time. But still am hopeful that we shall make it. I promise all Ugandans that they will see an improved team. I know they want attractive and dominant football which we are working on.

“It’s just the start of the journey and it’s difficult for all of us. I call upon all Ugandans to be patient but also believe that we shall make it,” he concluded.

Head to head

The two sides will be meeting for the sixth time. Among those, Guinea has three victories which puts it in a better place than the Uganda Cranes.

The two teams last played in 2014 and the game ended 2-0 in favour of Guinea, it’s more poetic that the game took place in Morocco just like tomorrow’s clash.

Team News

It will be the first time Yunus Sentamu and Kizito Luwagga return to the Uganda Cranes fold after four years.

Timothy Awany returns to the squad too and will tussle for a starting berth against Bevis Mugabi and Halid Lwaliwa.

Uganda’s backline will be tasked with keeping inform Serhou Guirassy at bay. The forward has scored 15 goals in 11 outings for Stuttgart.