Uganda Cranes: Paul Put summons 28 ahead of Botswana, Algeria World Cup Qualifiers

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put has named a 28 squad for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Botswana.

The two clashes will be held at the face lifted Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on 7^th and 10^th respectively.

The squad comprises of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders and nine forwards.

Record Uganda Premier league champions (17) SC Villa tone the squad with five players.

These include Goalkeeper Braddy Jeans Wokorach, Ronald Ssekiganda, Umar Lutalo, Kenneth Semakula and Patrick Jonah Kakande.

Allan Okello of Vipers SC has returned to the team while KCCA FC duo of Joel Sserunjogi and 2023/24 Uganda Premier league top scorer Muhammad Shaban are part of the 28-man squad.

Defender Elio Capradossi who plays for Serie B side Calcio Lecco FC in Italy is the new face named on Paul Put’s squad.

Capradossi is a Ugandan born in (Kampala) to an Italian father and a Congolese mother.

He has previously played for Italy’s U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U23 levels.

He is a product of AS Roma and where he won the 2015–2016 Italian U19 Championship as a squad captain.

Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu is also summoned again by the Belgian tactician.

Uganda Cranes will face off with Botswana on 7^th June before locking horns with Algeria on 10^th of the same month at Mandela National Stadium.

Uganda will return to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole for the first time since 2019.

Both games will be played under the floodlights with kickoff time being 7:00PM EAT.

Full Uganda Cranes Squad

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), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC, Scotland), Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Capradossi Elio (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)

Forwards:

Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana), Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu (Port Vale, England), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC, Uganda), Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Rogers Kassim Mato (Brera Strumica), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda)