PAUL PUT DETERMINED: UGANDA CRANES FIND IDENTITY AHEAD OF NIGERIA, TUNISIA CLASH
Paul Put's final Uganda Cranes AFCON squad features a blend of veteran leadership (Onyango, Aucho) and young prospects (Bogere) for the Group C challenge.
Paul Put's Uganda squad mixes experience with fresh talent as the Cranes left Kampala for an AFCON competition filled with potential.
Uganda's AFCON 2025 run starts with a quiet feeling of determination.
By the time Paul Put’s team landed in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sunday for their training camp, the talk about who would be chosen had turned into something more telling: a team starting to find its identity.
Putin often talks about slow progress rather than big changes. His final list shows that idea.
Well put together
The team has experienced players where they're needed, young players where energy is key, and some players whose careers have taken them around the world but who still feel Ugandan strongly.
The big names aren't the main point. What's important is how everything fits together.
Al Hassan Baba from FC Steaua București brings a skilful midfield game that Uganda has often missed in big competitions.
Uche Mubiru Ikpeazu adds strength to challenge defenders but also knows this is a chance to restart his international career—along with Melvyn Lorenzen.
Then there’s James Bogere from Masaka Sunshine, fresh from the U-17 World Cup, who goes into AFCON with the confidence of youth.
Uganda doesn't often rush young players into the team. Put has done it because he thinks Bogere brings something the team needs: a direct style and bravery.
Been there, done that.
Around them are the experienced players: Denis Onyango, still setting a high standard at 40; Khalid Aucho, the heart of the midfield; and Timothy Awany, who is reliable when he plays.
Plus, there are the European-based players—Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, and Jordan Obita—who have slowly become part of the Cranes team. The squad seems more complete than when they started trying to qualify.
Allan Okello from Vipers, the country’s best home-based player, leads a group of eight players from the Uganda Premier League, from Vipers, SC Villa, and KCCA.
One thing missing is Put's coaching staff, as his assistant, Sam Ssimbwa's contract wasn't renewed.
Time to get to work.
Uganda knows what's coming: Tunisia's toughness, Tanzania's familiarity, and Nigeria's strength. Group C won't be easy. Put's team isn't going as favourites.
But they know that in tournament games, being clear, disciplined, and calm is what matters.
The 4-0 loss to Morocco still hurts, but it shows what they need to improve. The gap between them and Africa’s best teams is there, but it can be closed.
The two practice games in Morocco will help decide roles in the team.
Who plays with Aucho, who starts on the left wing, whether Ikpeazu starts or comes off the bench, and whether Bogere gets any real playing time. These small questions will decide how ready they are for the tournament.
Uganda enters AFCON without much fuss. But the team has a plan, fresher players, and a better idea of what they can do.
For a team returning to Africa’s biggest stage, that might be the best place to start.
Crane's final squad
Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola – Richards Bay (South Africa), Denis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Nafian Alionzi – Defence Forces FC (Ethiopia), 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.
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