Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named a 26-man squad ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 qualifier against Burundi.
Uganda will face Burundi in the first leg of the qualifier on Dec. 26. The return leg will be played three days later at the same Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala.
Edgar Watson Suubi, the chief executive officer of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), told Xinhua on Wednesday that Burundi opted to host their return leg in Kampala because they have no stadium in Bujumbura that is approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). "We had no option but to accept their request to play the return match in Kampala," added Suubi.
The 2024 CHAN tournament, meant for players only engaging in their respective national leagues, will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from Feb. 1-28, 2025.
Although the hosts Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have already secured slots, they also play in the qualifiers. In the other final phase of the qualifiers in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone, Sudan will face Ethiopia, while Rwanda takes on South Sudan.
"We shall assemble as a team on December 21 to start training because the team needs to get busy till the tournament starts in February," added the Uganda Cranes coach.
Paul Put has already guided Uganda Cranes to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Hannington Ssebwalunyo (NEC FC), Mutwalibi Mugolofa (KCCA FC), Joel Mutakubwa (BUL FC).
Defenders: Gavin Kizito Mugweri (KCCA FC), Gideon Odongo (NEC FC), Moses Aliro (URA FC), Derrick Ndahiro (Vipers SC), Enock Walusimbi (URA FC), Arnold Odong (SC Villa), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers SC).
Midfielders: Joel Sseunjogi (KCCA FC), Enock Ssebagala (NEC FC), Allan Okello (Vipers SC), Saidi Mayanja (KCCA FC), Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Paul Patrick Mbowa (Vipers SC).
Forwards: Hakim Kiwanuka (SC Villa), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara FC), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA FC), Samuel Ssenyonjo (Express FC), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (URA FC), Isaac Ogwang (Police FC), James Jarieko (NEC FC).