Uganda Cranes Head Coach Paul Put has named his squad for the crucial final two games of the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers. The team will face South Africa at home on November 15, 2024, at the Mandela National Stadium, before traveling to Congo four days later for their penultimate qualifying match.
The two fixtures present a pivotal opportunity for Uganda to secure their spot at next year’s AFCON tournament.
With only one point required from a possible six, Coach Put’s squad is poised to clinch qualification with positive results in these final matches.
Squad Announcement and Goalkeeper Inclusion
For this set of fixtures, Coach Put has made the decision to summon four goalkeepers, including Mutwalibi Mugolofa from KCCA FC.
Explaining the inclusion of Mugolofa, who has been performing well in the Ugandan League, Put noted the importance of preparing for upcoming competitions, including the CHAN qualifiers against Burundi next month.
“We are aware that CHAN is around the corner, and we have games against Burundi next month. So I needed to have him (Mugolofa) around the setup and also get training sessions with the goalkeeping coach,” said Put. He added, “He has been performing well in the League and maybe next time we will summon another goalkeeper.”
Training Camp and Group Standing
The squad will enter residential camp on Sunday at Cranes Paradise in Kisasi, with foreign-based players joining the team as they arrive in the country.
Uganda is currently leading Group K with 10 points, two ahead of South Africa, while Congo and South Sudan trail with four and zero points, respectively.
The team’s performance in these upcoming qualifiers will be crucial in confirming Uganda’s participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The match against South Africa is expected to be highly competitive, as the two nations battle for top spot in the group.
Full Uganda Cranes Squad
The Uganda Cranes squad for the final AFCON qualifiers is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
- Isima Watenga (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa)
- Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia)
- Charles Lukwago (Venda FC, South Africa)
- Mutwalibi Mugolofa (KCCA FC, Uganda)
Defenders:
- Gavin Kizito Mugweri (KCCA FC, Uganda)
- Kenneth Semakula (Club Africaine, Tunisia)
- Isaac Muleme (Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic)
- 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)
- Geofrey Wasswa (Ethiopian Coffee FC, Ethiopia)
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 Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA FC, Uganda)
- Rogers Mato (FC Brera Strumica)
- Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania)
- Calvin Kabuye (Sandvikens IF, Sweden)
- Hakim Kiwanuka (SC Villa, Uganda)
- John Paul Dembe (BK Hacken, Sweden)
Uganda’s final push for qualification will be crucial as they aim to return to the continent’s premier football tournament in 2025.
