2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Thursday 9th, October 2025
Botswana v Uganda 7 pm
Francistown, Botswana: Uganda Cranes defender Toby Sibbick has expressed optimism and confidence ahead of Thursday’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Botswana, saying the team remains focused on securing maximum points to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Sibbick, who was outstanding in Uganda’s 2–0 home win over Somalia last month, said the players are motivated to push for back-to-back victories in their remaining fixtures against Botswana and Algeria.
“It’s a good experience and we know we have to win both games to put us in the best possible position for the World Cup qualifiers, and who knows, we can still win the group,” Sibbick said.
“We believe in ourselves. We’ve played big teams before and have faith we can win against Botswana.”
Uganda currently sits second in Group G with 15 points, four behind leaders Algeria on 19, while Mozambique also has 15. A win against Botswana would move the Cranes within just one point of Algeria ahead of the decisive final encounter in Algiers on Tuesday, 14th October 2025.
Coach Paul Put’s men have maintained high spirits in camp, with all 26 players now available at the Avani Resort Hotel in Gaborone. The latest arrivals, forwards Rogers Mato and Travis Mutyaba, have bolstered the attacking options ahead of the must-win tie.
Mato, who plies his trade with FK Vardar in North Macedonia, has been in blistering form this season with eight goals to his name, including two in Uganda’s last international window. Mutyaba, currently with CS Sfaxien in Tunisia, brings added creativity and flair to the Cranes’ forward line.
The two upcoming fixtures present a golden opportunity for Uganda to make football history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, a dream that has eluded the nation for decades.
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