Put names 26-man Cranes squad for World Cup qualifiers

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FIFA 2026 World Cup African Qualifiers

March 20
Mozambique vs. Uganda
Cairo International Stadium

March 25
Uganda vs. Guinea
Mandela National Stadium, Namboole

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Ugandan football giants KCCA, SC Villa, and Express’ struggles in the Uganda Premier League this season have been further exposed by Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put, who selected only three players from these clubs in his 26-man squad for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Guinea, scheduled for March 20 and 25.

While announcing the squad yesterday at FUFA House in Mengo, Kampala, the experienced Belgian tactician picked Patrick Kakande and Ronald Ssekiganda from Villa, Gavin Kizito from KCCA, and no player from Express.

Meanwhile, league leaders Vipers have three representatives—Allan Okello, Rogers Torach, and Abdul Karim Watambala.

The absence of any player from Express, KCCA having just one representative, and Villa only two, highlights the decline of these once-dominant clubs, formerly known as the VEK trio.

In their golden era, these three teams were the backbone of Ugandan football and consistently contributed the most players to the Cranes squad for major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers. However, that role has now shifted to Vipers.

The current Uganda Premier League standings reflect this decline. KCCA and Express are sixth and seventh, respectively, level on 28 points, while Villa sits ninth with 24 points. KCCA and Villa are both trailing Vipers by 18 points, effectively ruling them out of the title race.

This underwhelming performance likely influenced Paul Put’s decision to select fewer players from these struggling teams for the crucial qualifiers against Guinea and Mozambique—must-win encounters if Uganda is to keep its World Cup dreams alive.

Put has also dropped several players who featured in Uganda’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa and Congo Brazzaville last November. The dropped players include goalkeepers Charles Lukwago and Mugolofa Mutwalibi, defenders Halid Lwaliwa and Geoffrey Wasswa, midfielders Saidi Mayanja, Bobosi Byaruhanga, and Taddeo Lwanga, as well as forwards Shafik Kwikiriza and Paul Dembe.

The squad features one new face—NEC FC midfielder Enock Ssebagala—and the return of Muhammad Shaban, who was absent from the AFCON qualifiers against South Africa and Congo.

The team is set to depart for Egypt on March 16 for the Mozambique fixture, which will be played at Cairo International Stadium on March 20. CAF ruled out Mozambique’s Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo due to its failure to meet the minimum requirements for hosting CAF and FIFA Category 3 matches.

Uganda will then host Guinea at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on March 25.

Currently, Uganda sits fifth in the six-team group with six points from four games. Their only two wins came against Botswana and Somalia, while they suffered defeats to Algeria and Guinea.

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26-man squad

Goalkeepers: Ismail Watenga, Nafian Alionzi, Joel Mutakubwa

Defenders: Elvis Bwomono, Gavin Kizito, Bevis Mugabi, Timothy Awany, Steven Tobby, Rogers Torach, Aziz Kayondo, Isaac Muleme

Midfielders: Ronald Ssekiganda, Kenneth Semakula, Khalid Aucho, Enock Ssebagala, Abdul Karim Watambala, Allan Okello, Travis Mutyaba

Forwards: Denis Omedi, Hassan Kiwanuka, Jude Ssemugabi, Rogers Mato, Steven Mukwala, Muhammad Shaban, Charles Kabuye, Patrick Kakande