UGANDA CRANES FINALIZED: SIBBICK, BOGERE MAKE PAUL PUT'S AFCON 2025 SQUAD
The Uganda Cranes squad, heading to Morocco for AFCON Group C, balances seasoned pros with fresh talent, reflecting Put's push for a more confident, modern team.
Paul Put has announced his final Cranes squad, combining experienced international players, talent from the diaspora, and some surprising new picks. Uganda is heading to Morocco for the AFCON 2025 group stage, which will be a real test of their maturity and how well they work together.
The team is leaving Entebbe on Sunday evening. Coach Paul Put's selection includes seasoned players like Denis Onyango, midfielder Khalid Aucho, defender Timothy Awany, and forwards Melvyn Lorenzen and Steven Mukwala.
But there's also a big focus on fresh blood. Several players of Ugandan descent, who've been gradually introduced in qualifying matches and friendlies, are now trusted to play a key role.
Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, Jordan Obita, Mubiru, and Lorenzen make up this group of foreign-based players with Ugandan roots.
There are also some unexpected choices, like Romanian-based midfielder Alhassan Baba and teenage winger James Bogere from Masaka Sunshine. Bogere was chosen after impressing at the youth level and in the recent U-17 World Cup.
This selection of Bogere is one of Put's boldest decisions, showing he's willing to give a chance to up-and-coming talent.
A strong local contingent also made the squad, including KCCA’s Charles Lukwago, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, and Shafik Kwikiriza; Vipers defenders Rogers Torach and Hilary Mukundane; forward Allan Okello; and SC Villa’s David Owori and Reagan Mpande.
The Cranes will camp in Casablanca for 11 days, with two friendly matches planned. Then, they’ll move to Rabat, their base for AFCON Group C, where they’ll face Tunisia and Tanzania before playing Nigeria in Fes.
Put’s choices show a team that’s still developing but becoming more confident in its collective identity.
The big question is whether this mix of experience, diaspora talent, and new potential can help Uganda go further than the last 16, which is where they finished in the 2019 edition in Egypt.
Uganda Cranes' Final Squad
Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay, South Africa), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), and Charles Lukwago (KCCA, Uganda).
Defenders: Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion, England), Elio Caprodossi (FC Universitatea Cluj, Romania), Jordan Obita (Hibernian, Scotland), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC, Uganda), Abdu Azizi Kayondo (FC Slovan Liberec, Czech Republic), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Žižkov, Czech Republic), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), David Owori (SC Villa, Uganda), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC, Uganda).
Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia), Khalid Aucho (Singida Black Stars SC, Tanzania), Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC, Rwanda), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Oakland Roots SC, USA), Alhassan Baba (FCSB, Romania).
Forwards: Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Melvyn Lorenzen (Muangthong United, Thailand), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Denis Omedi (APR, Rwanda), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar, North Macedonia), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Jamus FC, South Sudan), Uchechukwu Ikpeazu (St Johnstone, Scotland), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine, Uganda), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA, Uganda), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA, Uganda).
KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN
KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.
Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.
But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.
The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.
KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.
After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.
From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.
Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.
TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE
Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.
NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.
Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.
Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.
NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.
Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.
NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.
So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.
_1770728093.webp)
