Ssemugabi confident as Uganda Cranes face Algeria in World Cup qualifier
The Cranes arrived in Algeria on Saturday, and conducted their first training session on Sunday, October 12.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Jude Semugabi in training. File photo
World Cup qualifiers
Tuesday 14th
Group G fixtures
Algeria v Uganda, Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed, Boukhalfa, 7pm
Guinea v Botswana, Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, 7pm
Somalia v Mozambique, Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex, Bir El Djir, 7pm
Uganda Cranes forward Jude Ssemugabi, who scored the winner against Botswana, says the team is in good shape and ready for their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria on Tuesday 14, at the Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed in Boukhalfa.
“What I have to say is that we are in good shape. Everybody is in good shape in camp and we are ready for the game," he said.
"We have done all the preparations by honouring the coaches’ programmes and trainings, so we are ready for the game. What we promise Ugandans is that we need your support in this remaining game, and we promise you that we are going to work hard to win that game.”
The Cranes arrived in Algeria on Saturday, and conducted their first training session on Sunday, October 12.
Only a convincing win against Algeria will keep Uganda’s faint mathematical hope of reaching the intercontinental playoffs alive.
Ssemugabi’s 54th-minute header from an Allan Okello corner secured Uganda a 1–0 victory over Botswana in their earlier group match, giving the team confidence heading into the final round of games.
Algeria, already qualified with a game to spare, have been dominant throughout the qualifiers.
Their only loss came in June last year against Guinea. Uganda faces a high-stakes challenge, needing to beat Algeria by more than a single goal and hope other results in Group G and across Africa favor them.
With the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, Africa will send nine direct qualifiers plus one extra nation via the playoff.
The four best runners-up across the nine groups will compete in Morocco from November 13–16, for the final continental slot.
The playoff will follow a single-leg knockout format, with extra time and penalties if matches end in a draw.
CAF confirmed that points earned against bottom-placed teams will not count when ranking second-placed teams.
Uganda currently sits 7th with 12 points after deductions from home-and-away wins over Somalia. Burkina Faso (15 pts, GD +6) and Niger (15 pts, GD +1) are ahead, while Gabon (16 pts, GD +4) and Cameroon (14 pts, GD +9) could also qualify depending on results in the final round.
Uganda’s fate depends not only on beating Algeria but also on outcomes in other groups, including results for Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, and Gabon.
The four best runners-up will be seeded based on the October FIFA World Rankings, with semi-final winners meeting in a final to determine Africa’s representative at the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off.