Paul Put names Cranes squad for friendlies against Chad and Morocco
The matches will be held on November 15 and November 19 and will help the team prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which kicks off in December.
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Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named his squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against Chad and Morocco, both to be played in Morocco later this month.
The matches will be held on November 15 and November 19 and will help the team prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which kicks off in December.
The squad features new and returning faces, showing Put’s commitment to building a balanced team made up of both local and foreign-based players.
Among the fresh call-ups are goalkeepers Tom Ikara (BUL FC) and Denis Kiggundu (Vipers SC), defender Timothy Awany, midfielder Baba Al Hassan, and forward Melvyn Lorenzen.
Notably, goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi and striker Denis Omedi have been left out for the first time in years, while Shafiq Nana makes a return.
Lorenzen, 30, plays for Muangthong United in Thailand. Born in London to a Ugandan father and German mother, he last played for Uganda in 2016 during a friendly against Zimbabwe. His return adds more experience and depth to the forward line.
Meanwhile, Baba Al Hassan, who features for Romanian giants FCSB (formerly FC Steaua București), has received his first-ever national team call-up. Coach Put described him as “a box-to-box midfielder with maturity.”
The squad also includes several local players, such as Allan Okello,Torach Rodgers, Hillary Mukundane (Vipers SC), Shafik Kwikiriza and Herbert Achali (KCCA FC), who have been in top form in the Uganda Premier League.
The Belgian coach, who recently signed a new contract to stay in charge until 2028, has guided the Cranes in 23 games, winning 13, drawing 3, and losing 7, with 30 goals scored and 24 conceded.
Uganda has been placed in Group C for AFCON 2025, alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania. The Cranes will open against Tunisia on December 23, face Tanzania on December 27, and finish against Nigeria on December 30.
This will be Uganda’s eighth AFCON appearance, having previously played in 1962, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2017, and 2019.
Uganda Cranes Squad
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.