Can Uganda Cranes do a double at Mandela Stadium tonight?

10th June 2024
📍 Mandela National Stadium
🕖 7:00 PM

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Cranes will hope to ride on the momentum of their victory over Botswana at the weekend, when they face bogey side Algeria today.

Another mamoth crowd is expected to support the national football team in their second match since the re-opening of Namboole, and it will drown out the 10 Algerian supporters who traveled to Kampala to support their team.

Uganda are third on the table of the World Cup qualifying Group G, but have similar points with the top two. Victory today will put them in pole position.

Head Coach Paul Put is expected to send out a similar side to that which started against Botswana, before switching tactics in the second half like he did at the weekend.

Friday’s win

Substitute Muhammad Shaban netted the lone goal after 74 minutes to send the fans on their feet at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium.

Shaban capitalized on another substitute Denis Omedi’s cross to place the ball past Botswana’s goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko.

Earlier in the first half, striker Fahad Bayo and Steven Mukwala missed some decent scoring chances for Uganda Cranes. Vincent Sesiyi Thabang also had his shot miss the target for Botswana after the interval.

After taking the lead, the home team continued to trouble Botswana with lots of attacks orchestrated by Shaban, Rogers Mato and Bobosi Byaruhanga, while Italian based defender Elio Capradossi, who was making his debut for Uganda, put up a man of the match performance with good interceptions and command at the backline.

“I am happy that the team played with a lot of confidence and scored to win the match. We need to keep improving so that we can take the scoring chances that we create as a team,” said a happy Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put after the match watched by over 30,000 fans.

Botswana captain Dithokwe Thatayaone said that it was not their day to win. “We tried to play well and keep the Uganda team at bay, but one mistake at the back cost us,” added Thatayaone.

Algerians here

The Algerians last night had their training on the beautiful lawn of the Mandela National Stadium. All the players took part in this training, which lasted an hour and was devoted exclusively to the technical-tactical aspect.

The Algerians will be in all white, while Cranes will maitain their yellow, black uniform

This Uganda-Algeria match will be officiated by a Beninese quartet composed of Adissa Abdul Raphiou LIGALI (central referee), Gbèmassiandan Narcisse KOUTON (1st assistant), Lucien Todégnon HONTONNOU (2nd assistant) and Dédjinnanchi Tanislas AHOMLANTO (4th referee).

Summoned players

Ronald Otti (BUL FC, Uganda), Chrispas Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda), Shaban Muhammad (KCCA FC, Uganda), Joel Sserunjoji (KCCA FC, Uganda), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda), Jeans Braddy Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia), Isima Bin Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Capradossi Elio (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy), Nelson Senkatuka (Soltilo Bright Stars FC, Uganda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC, USA), Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bull II, USA),Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt), Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana), Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Carl Mujaguzi (Athlone Town AFC) and Rogers Kassim Mato (Brera Strumica).

Table standings