Sports
Cranes seek to make Hoima a fortress against Botswana
The Cranes, who top the group with four points from two matches, won their first match at Hoima City Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Libya in September.
The Cranes, who top the group with four points from two matches, won their first match at Hoima City Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Libya in September. (Courtesy photo)
By: Yekoyada Saaka, Journalist @New Vision
________________
2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Group H
Friday's result
Tunisia 0 Libya 2
Today, 7:00 pm
Uganda v Botswana
Venue: Hoima City Stadium
Uganda will be seeking back-to-back victories at Hoima City Stadium when they host Botswana in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group H qualifier under the floodlights on Saturday.
The Cranes, who top the group with four points from two matches, won their first match at Hoima City Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Libya in September.
They will be keen to build on that historic result and make their new home a fortress.
Uganda will also head into Saturday's encounter as favourites, having won all their last five meetings with Botswana.
The Cranes have beaten the Zebras in each of their last five encounters, including both meetings in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, when they secured identical 1-0 victories, home and away.
Victory over the Zebras would take the Cranes to seven points, opening a three-point gap over second-placed Libya, who have four points after boosting their qualification hopes with a 2-0 away victory over Tunisia in Tunis on Friday night.
Uganda, however, are already assured of a place at next year's finals, which they will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17. Consequently, the Cranes are not under pressure to collect qualification points, but Saturday's encounter offers players another opportunity to impress head coach Paul Put as he continues to assemble a competitive squad for the tournament.
Put has promised a strong performance and victory to reward the thousands of Cranes supporters who have travelled from Kampala and other parts of the country to cheer on the team in Hoima.
“I know there are many people coming from Kampala and other districts. We also have to do everything possible to give everyone a nice feeling. I saw the big support in the last game against Libya and for Kitara when they hosted Al Ahly SC. I expect a full house on Saturday,” said Put.
For midfielder Khalid Aucho, the encounter will carry special significance as he prepares to make his final appearance in Uganda Cranes colours.
The veteran midfielder recently announced his retirement from international football after 13 years of service, during which he featured at three AFCON finals.
Aucho captained Uganda at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. In recognition of his contribution, FUFA has announced that play will be stopped in the eighth minute on Saturday to allow supporters to applaud the midfielder, who wears jersey number eight.
The Cranes also received a royal visit on Friday, with Buganda Kingdom's sports-loving Princess Katrina Ssangalyambogo attending their final training session at Hoima City Stadium.
On the pitch, much of the attention will be on the attacking partnership of in-form forwards Arnold Vula and exciting 18-year-old James Bogere.
Put faces an interesting selection dilemma as he decides whether to trust either forward as his leading striker or find a way to accommodate both in his starting line-up.
Bogere has continued to establish himself as one of Uganda's most exciting attacking prospects.
Uganda, however, are already assured of a place at next year's finals, which they will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17. Consequently, the Cranes are not under pressure to collect qualification points, but Saturday's encounter offers players another opportunity to impress head coach Paul Put as he continues to assemble a competitive squad for the tournament.
The Cranes, who top the group with four points from two matches, won their first match at Hoima City Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Libya in September. (Courtesy photo)
Put has promised a strong performance and victory to reward the thousands of Cranes supporters who have travelled from Kampala and other parts of the country to cheer on the team in Hoima.
“I know there are many people coming from Kampala and other districts. We also have to do everything possible to give everyone a nice feeling. I saw the big support in the last game against Libya and for Kitara when they hosted Al Ahly SC. I expect a full house on Saturday,” said Put.
For midfielder Khalid Aucho, the encounter will carry special significance as he prepares to make his final appearance in Uganda Cranes colours.
The veteran midfielder recently announced his retirement from international football after 13 years of service, during which he featured at three AFCON finals.
Aucho captained Uganda at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. In recognition of his contribution, FUFA has announced that play will be stopped in the eighth minute on Saturday to allow supporters to applaud the midfielder, who wears jersey number eight.
The Cranes also received a royal visit on Friday, with Buganda Kingdom's sports-loving Princess Katrina Ssangalyambogo attending their final training session at Hoima City Stadium.
On the pitch, much of the attention will be on the attacking partnership of in-form forwards Arnold Vula and exciting 18-year-old James Bogere.
Put faces an interesting selection dilemma as he decides whether to trust either forward as his leading striker or find a way to accommodate both in his starting line-up.
Bogere has continued to establish himself as one of Uganda's most exciting attacking prospects.
The teenager arrives for national team duty in impressive form, having scored twice against the Democratic Republic of Congo in consecutive international friendlies during the previous international window.
He has also maintained his scoring touch in European football, finding the net for Danish side AGF Aarhus in their 1-1 draw against Albania's KF Egnatia in the UEFA Europa Conference League last month.
The youngster had earlier demonstrated his goalscoring ability in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where he scored twice against FK Sabah.
The Masaka-based El Cambio Academy graduate is popular among Ugandan football fans, making him one of the players likely to attract considerable attention when the Cranes take to the Hoima City Stadium pitch.
However, he faces stiff competition from the physically imposing Vula, who has also enjoyed an impressive scoring run for Belgian side Beerschot VA.
The recently naturalised forward has scored 10 goals for Beerschot in all competitions, including nine in the league and one in the domestic cup.
The towering 27-year-old has been among the standout performers in Belgium's second tier, where he leads the scoring charts, while Beerschot top the 15-team table with 27 points from 10 matches.
Last month, Vula grabbed the headlines with a sensational hat-trick against RFC Liege, further underlining his importance to the Belgian side as they seek a return to the top flight.
He also made an immediate impact for the Cranes, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Libya at Hoima City Stadium in September to secure Uganda's 1-0 victory.
For Botswana, Saturday's encounter is crucial to their hopes of qualifying for next year's finals.
With Uganda already assured of a place as co-hosts, the remaining qualification spot in Group H is being contested by Botswana, Libya and Tunisia.
Botswana captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe acknowledged that Uganda would be difficult opponents but insisted his team had prepared adequately and were confident of securing a positive result.
“We know that it is going to be difficult against Uganda, but we are ready for the challenge. We will not give up easily,” said Ditlhokwe.
With two points from two matches, Botswana will head into Saturday's game knowing that victory would take them to five points, ahead of Tuesday's return fixture against Uganda in Gaborone.
He has also maintained his scoring touch in European football, finding the net for Danish side AGF Aarhus in their 1-1 draw against Albania's KF Egnatia in the UEFA Europa Conference League last month.
The youngster had earlier demonstrated his goalscoring ability in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where he scored twice against FK Sabah.
The Masaka-based El Cambio Academy graduate is popular among Ugandan football fans, making him one of the players likely to attract considerable attention when the Cranes take to the Hoima City Stadium pitch.
However, he faces stiff competition from the physically imposing Vula, who has also enjoyed an impressive scoring run for Belgian side Beerschot VA.
The recently naturalised forward has scored 10 goals for Beerschot in all competitions, including nine in the league and one in the domestic cup.
The towering 27-year-old has been among the standout performers in Belgium's second tier, where he leads the scoring charts, while Beerschot top the 15-team table with 27 points from 10 matches.
Last month, Vula grabbed the headlines with a sensational hat-trick against RFC Liege, further underlining his importance to the Belgian side as they seek a return to the top flight.
He also made an immediate impact for the Cranes, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Libya at Hoima City Stadium in September to secure Uganda's 1-0 victory.
For Botswana, Saturday's encounter is crucial to their hopes of qualifying for next year's finals.
With Uganda already assured of a place as co-hosts, the remaining qualification spot in Group H is being contested by Botswana, Libya and Tunisia.
Botswana captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe acknowledged that Uganda would be difficult opponents but insisted his team had prepared adequately and were confident of securing a positive result.
“We know that it is going to be difficult against Uganda, but we are ready for the challenge. We will not give up easily,” said Ditlhokwe.
With two points from two matches, Botswana will head into Saturday's game knowing that victory would take them to five points, ahead of Tuesday's return fixture against Uganda in Gaborone.