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Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has made three changes in the team to face South Sudan in the return leg.

Center forward Derrick Nsibambi, combative midfielder Taddeo Lwanga and attacker Allan Okello have been given starting nods at Juba National Stadium.

Isma Watenga maintains his place between the goalposts as does the back four of Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo, Bevis Mugabi and Halid Lwaliwa.

Team captain Khalid Aucho is joined by a new partner in defensive midfield with Lwanga starting ahead of Ssekiganda.

Okello, the creator of the goal at Namboole on Friday, starts ahead of Travis Mutyaba.

Nsibambi will lead the search for goals in the number nine role with Denis Omedi and Rogers Mato drifting in off the wings.

2025 AFCON Qualifiers | Fixture

Uganda Cranes is set to lock horns with South Sudan in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers encounter on Tuesday in Juba.

Uganda Cranes come into this fixture with a step away from securing a spot in the forthcoming 2025 AFCON tournament.

After picking a 1-0 victory against South Sudan on Friday, Uganda needs to secure a victory in Juba to end the dull of spell without AFCON engagements.

Uganda Cranes head coach Joseph Paul Put expects a tough duel against South Sudan in the second leg.

“We know it will be a tough game. We have prepared and are ready for the tough duel because South Sudan is playing at home,” he said.

“They will want to take revenge, so if we are not prepared, then it will be a very tough game,” he added.

“We play against South Sudan, which is a very organised game. They created a number of chances in the first leg.”

“We have to be aware of that (it will be tough) going into this fixture. We know some of the challenges ahead of us, but we have prepared well.”

Uganda and South Africa top group K with seven points each. The Cranes sit on top of the group due to the away goals against South Africa.

Team News

Elio Capradossi has shaken off the knock he suffered while in Kampala. There has been concern with his training, but he managed to cut the travelling squad.

Bevis Mugabi missed the recovery session after Friday’s game after catching a cold, but the gaffer says he has since fought against the illness.

Head to head

The two sides have met twice. Among those, Uganda has registered five wins suffered one loss and made one draw.

2025 AFCON Qualifiers | Fixture

Uganda Cranes has set off to Juba, where they will take on South Sudan in the return leg of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers on Tuesday.

Uganda will have a huge delegation of 47 members travelling to South Sudan today aboard Uganda Airlines.

The delegation includes 27 players and 20 officials, among them is the technical team and the Federation officials.

According to the FUFA website, the FUFA President Hon Moses Hashim Magogo will travel on Monday to attend the team’s final training.

Paul Put’s charges go into the fixture after securing a 1-0 victory against South Sudan on Friday evening

A victory on Tuesday will seal Uganda’s spot in the forthcoming 2025 AFCON tournament that will be hosted in Morocco.

Travelling Squad

2025 AFCON Qualifiers | Result

Bevis Mugabi scored the all-important goal as Uganda Cranes secured a 1-0 victory against South Sudan in the AFCON Qualifiers encounter at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

In the game that was played on Friday evening, Uganda Cranes had to dig deep to secure maximum points on the day.

Uganda kicked off on the front foot through the left flank, seeking an early opener, but South Sudan’s backline stood firm.

In the 25th minute, Ronald Ssekiganda carelessly lost possession in the middle park, but Alfred Leku’s effort went wide of the frame.

At the half-hour mark, Kenneth Ssemakula was fouled steps away from the box, but Rogers Mato skied his effort.

Four minutes later, Leku’s powerful effort forced Uganda Cranes custodian Isima Watenga in a full stretch save.

At the beginning of the second stanza, Paul Put made two changes bringing on Allan Okello and Bobosi Byaruhanga for Travis Mutyaba and Ronald Ssekiganda.

Mugabi broke the deadlock in the 47th minute after guiding the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Jude Ssemugabi’s header off Allan Okello’s sweet delivery was saved by South Sudan’s goalkeeper Juma Jenaro Amuk but Mugabi was close to poke it in.

Halidi Lwaliwa made a goalline clearance to deny South Sudan a late equaliser.

The victory takes Uganda Cranes to seven points in three games, which is sure a thrilling report card.

Starting XI: Isima Watenga, Kenneth Ssemakula, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Bevis Mugabi, Halidi Lwaliwa, Khalid Aucho, Ronald Ssekiganda, Travis Mutyaba, Denis Omedi, Jude Ssemugabi, Rogers Mato

AFCON Qualifiers | Half Time

After 45 minutes of thrilling action, South Sudan has still held Uganda Cranes to a goalless draw in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers encounter at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Friday.

Paul Put made two changes in the starting lineup as he introduced Halidi Lwaliwa and Jude Ssemugabi for Elio Capradossi and Muhammad Shaban.

Uganda kicked off on the front foot through the left flank, seeking an early opener, but South Sudan’s backline stood firm.

In the 25th minute, Ronald Ssekiganda carelessly lost possession in the middle park but Alfred Leku’s effort went wide of the frame.

At the half-hour mark, Kenneth Ssemakula was fouled steps away from the box but Rogers Mato skied his effort after being set up by Travis Mutyaba from the resultant freekick.

Four minutes later, Leku’s powerful effort forced Uganda Cranes custodian Isima Watenga in a full stretch save.

Before the break, Mato was tripped in the dangerous zone but the referee waved play-on noticing no foul.

Starting XI: Isima Watenga, Kenneth Ssemakula, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Bevis Mugabi, Halidi Lwaliwa, Khalid Aucho, Ronald Ssekiganda, Travis Mutyaba, Denis Omedi, Jude Ssemugabi, Rogers Mato

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named the team that will take on South Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers at Namboole.

Halid Lwaliwa is back in the starting XI after sitting out the game against Congo last month.

Jude Ssemugabi who came off the bench to score against Congo has been rewarded with a starting place.

Isama Watenga starts in goal and will be shielded by the back line of Aziz Kayondo at left back, Kenneth Ssemakula at right back with Bavis Mugabi and Lwaliwa pairing up in the center of defense.

Skipper Khalid Aucho and Ronald Ssekiganda will marshal the midfield with Travis Mutyaba in the creative role.

Kitara Football Club duo of Denis Omedi and Ssemugabi are joined by Rogers Mato to complete the front three who will search for goals.

AFCON 2025 Qualifiers | Fixture

Uganda Cranes will take on South Sudan in the AFCON Qualifiers at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Friday evening.

Uganda comes into the encounter with four points after a draw against South Africa and a victory against Congo Brazzaville.

The gaffer, Joseph Paul Put, has confidence that his troops will deliver despite how tough it will be.

“I have the confidence in the players. I have seen them at the training ground. We have a young team, and we lack experience in some positions, but we are ready,” he stated.

“But with the support of the fans, it always pushes the fans to a higher level. We have been working very hard, and it’s an opportunity for the new members to showcase their talents,” he added.

South Sudan has not yet picked a point after playing two games, losing to Congo Brazzaville and South Africa.

Team News

Taddeo Lwanga, Shafic Kwikiriza, Gavin Kizito and Derrick Nsibambi wait to play their first game under the tutelage of the Belgian gaffer.

On the other hand, South Sudan will miss the services of skipper Peter Maker Manyang and right-back Joseph Dhata.

Head to head

The two sides have met on six occasions. Uganda has picked four wins, drawing once and losing once.

South Sudan has won once in the last 10 international games they have played.

Uganda’s National U-20 Team, christened Hippos, has made it two wins in two games at the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

In the Cecafa U20 Championship Group B contest played at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, the Hippos beat Burundi 4-1 thanks to John Paul Dembe’s first-half brace and two own goals from Samir Kaskile and Ramazani Hakizimana.

Uganda got a dream start as Salemani headed the ball into his own net inside three minutes off Steven Namaisi’s long throw-in.

Fifteen minutes later, the Hippos were celebrating again after Dembe’s volley. The forward controlled a long ball from center-back Louis Anguti and fired home Uganda’s second of the game.

Dember got his second and Uganda’s third in the 23rd minute through a header thanks to Allan Oyirowth’s pin-point delivery.

After the break, Burundi started strong but it was the Hippos who got the fourth after Hakizimana, under pressure from Oyirwoth, turned Swabiri Mpasa’s cross from the left past his goalkeeper.

Christopher Ndeyikengurukiye pulled a goal back for Burundi from close range in the 62nd minute.

Uganda Hippos Line-Up

Uganda Cranes forward Rogers Mato has sounded a warning ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers ties against South Sudan.

In an interaction with the media after Tuesday’s training session, Mato said the team is mentally and physically prepared for the match to be played on Friday night at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.

“The boys are in shape and willing to give 100 per cent. We are very well prepared mentally and physically and we are ready to give in 100 per cent in these upcoming games,” Mato said.

South Sudan’s squad is comprised of players who play or have played in the Uganda Premier League and these include Francis Onekalit, Rashid Toha, Geriga Atendele, Rashid Okocha, Emmanuel Loki, Gadafi Wahab, Tito Okello, Francis Onekalit and Alfred Leku.

“They are [our] friends, they are brothers, they play in this [Uganda Premier] League. We respect them but the friendship will end outside the pitch but on the pitch, it is all about business.

“We want to go to the Africa Cup of Nations so, there will be no friendship and brotherhood on the pitch,” Mato added.

A scorer in the qualifiers’ opening match against South Africa, Mato says he is hungry for more goals as he wants his country to be proud of him.

“I still want to score for my nation, I want my family to be proud of me I want to give 100 per cent every time I’m on the national team.”

The return leg will be played at Juba Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.

APR midfielder Taddeo Lwanga has been summoned to the Uganda Cranes squad that will be facing South Sudan in the upcoming 2025 AFCON Qualifiers.

The development was confirmed as Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put named the 27-man squad in the press conference held at FUFA House, Mengo on Tuesday morning.

Uganda is set to take on neighbours South Sudan at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Friday, October 11 before they face off in Juba four days later.

The former Vipers and SC Villa skipper has been away missing out on several Uganda Cranes engagements but his recent performances with APR have enticed the gaffer to recall him.

In the same breath, Derrick Nsibambi and Gavin Kizito who recently joined KCCA also made the cut to the 27-man squad.

The other surprise inclusion is Shafik ‘Nana’ Kwikiriza who has been a joy to watch in the games he has featured for KCCA since joining from BUL FC.

Shaban Muhammad and Elvis Bwomono have been dropped from the team due to lack of playing time on their teams which has been due to recurring injuries.

Uganda is pitted in Group K alongside Congo Brazzaville, South Africa and South Sudan. The Cranes have played two games managing to collect four points out of the possible six.

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the 2025 AFCON which will be hosted by Morocco.

Uganda Cranes Squad

Goalkeepers

Isima Watenga (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago, Venda FC, South Africa)

Defenders

Gavin Kizito Mugweri (KCCA FC, Uganda), Kenneth Semakula (Club Africaine, Tunisia), Isaac Muleme (Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (FC Slovan Liberec, Czech Republic), Bevis Mugabi (Famagusta Anorthosis, Greece), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Halidi Lwaliwa (Al Ain SC, Saudi Arabia), Arnold Odong (SC Villa, Uganda)

Midfielders

Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin II, USA), Taddeo Lwanga (APR FC, Rwanda), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Travis Mutyaba (Girondins Bordeaux, France), Saidi Mayanja (KCCA FC, Uganda)

Forwards

Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Shafik Kwikiriza (KCCA FC, Uganda), Rogers Mato (FC Brera Strumica), Derrick Nsibambi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania), Calvin Kabuye (Sandvikens IF, Sweden)