David GOMBE
Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put has named the squad for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Botswana.
The Belgian has named a squad that has four goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders and nine forwards.
New Uganda Premier league champions SC Villa dominate Put’s named squad with five players who are Goalkeeper Braddy Jeans Wokorach, Ronald Ssekiganda, Umar Lutalo, Kenneth Semakula and their starman Patrick Jonah Kakande.
Vipers SC’s Allan Okello returns 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 features for Serie B side Calcio Lecco FC in Italy is the new face named on the squad.
Capradossi was born in Kampala to an Italian father and a Congolese mother. He represented Italy on the 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 host Botswana on 7th June before taking on Algeria on 10th of the same month at Mandela National Stadium.
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)