Kampala, Uganda: Fresh off signing a new contract to keep in charge of the Uganda Cranes until 2028, head coach Paul Put has announced his latest squad for the upcoming international friendly matches to be played in Morocco later this month.
Uganda will face Chad on November 15 before taking on Morocco on November 19, with both matches serving as part of the team’s final preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which kicks off next month in Morocco.
The Belgian tactician, who recently guided Uganda to its eighth AFCON qualification, unveiled a 25-man squad that blends new faces, returning stars, and home-based players, underscoring his philosophy of building a balanced and competitive national team.
Among the fresh call-ups are goalkeepers Tom Ikara and Denis Kiggundu, defender Timothy Awany, midfielder Al Hassan Baba, and forward Melvyn Lorenzen.
Baba, who features for Romanian side FCSB (formerly FC Steaua București), earns his maiden national team call-up, while Lorenzen makes a surprise comeback nearly ten years after his debut appearance for Uganda in a 2–0 friendly loss to Zimbabwe in May 2016.
The squad also includes nine home-based players, led by Vipers SC midfielder Allan Okello, whose impressive performances in the Uganda Premier League continue to earn him national recognition.
FUFA confirmed that the Morocco friendlies will provide Coach Put with a critical opportunity to fine-tune his tactics and assess player fitness before the AFCON finals begin.
“These games will help the team prepare both mentally and tactically ahead of the continental tournament,” FUFA noted in a statement.
Uganda, drawn in Group C, will face Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria at the AFCON. The Cranes open their campaign against Tunisia on December 23 at the Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah, before meeting Tanzania on December 27 at the Stade Al Barid, and wrapping up the group stage with a showdown against Nigeria on December 30 at the Complexe Sportif De Fes.
Coach Put’s renewed contract, which runs until 2028, signals FUFA’s confidence in his long-term project to rebuild and stabilize the national team. His tenure has been marked by a renewed sense of discipline, tactical flexibility, and player development, combining the experience of foreign-based professionals with the hunger of domestic talents.
The upcoming friendlies will also serve as the final testing ground for several fringe players vying for spots in Uganda’s AFCON 2025 final squad — a campaign the nation hopes will mark a new era of consistency and continental competitiveness.
Uganda Cranes Squad for Morocco Friendlies
Goalkeepers: Magoola Salim Omar, Onyango Denis, Ikara Tom, Kiggundu Denis.
Defenders: Sibbick Toby, Elio Caprodossi, Obita Jordan, Torach Rogers, Mukundane Hilary, Kayondo Aziizi, Achayi Herbert, Awany Timothy, Aliro Moses.
Midfielders: Semakula Kenneth, Aucho Khalid, Oyirwoth Allan, Al Hassan Baba, Byaruhanga Bobosi.
Forwards: Okello Allan, Melvyn Lorenzen, Mutyaba Travis, Mpande Joseph, Mato Rogers, Mpande Reagan, Ssemugabi Jude, Ikpeazu Uchechukwu, Mukwala Steven, Kwikiriza Shafik.
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