The Uganda Cranes are gearing up for a highly anticipated return to Mandela National Stadium this Friday as they face off against Botswana in the third matchday of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Having undergone eight days of intensive training, the team is in top form and ready to deliver outstanding results for Ugandan fans, who haven’t seen their national team play at this iconic venue in five years.
At a press conference held at the FUFA Complex in Mengo on Thursday, Uganda Cranes Head Coach Paul Put expressed his satisfaction with the team’s preparations. “We are set for the game against Botswana, and the players are all in the right shape mentally and physically to put up the best performance,” he stated.
Addressing concerns about the squad composition, which includes several home-based players, Put emphasized the importance of performance and attitude over player origin. “It doesn’t matter where a player is based—here or abroad. As a coach, I always look for performance and attitude in training. I believe everyone has the ability to perform when given an opportunity to play.”
However, the team will be without captain Khalid Aucho, who is sidelined due to injury. Put indicated that further medical assessments will determine if Aucho can feature in Monday’s game against Algeria. Despite his absence, Aucho remains confident in his team’s unity and spirit. “We are one family, and not even my absence can dent our targets. Coming back to Namboole is enough motivation for everyone on the team to ensure we come out victorious,” Aucho said.
Forward Rogers Kassim Mato, who had been facing travel document issues, is set to join the team on Friday. While he will miss the match against Botswana, he will be available for the crucial game against Algeria.
Uganda currently has three points from their first two games in the qualifiers. They began with a 1-0 loss to Guinea but bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Somalia.
The match against Botswana is crucial for the Cranes as they look to strengthen their position in the qualifiers and make a strong case for their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
