Paul Put Blames Late Arrival for Poor First-half Performance against South Sudan

On Friday, 11th October 2024, football fans gathered eagerly at the Mandela National Stadium, anticipating a thrilling match between Uganda national team and the visiting South Sudan. However, the atmosphere was tinged with impatience as the Uganda national team bus was significantly delayed in arriving at the stadium, contrasting sharply with the punctuality of the South Sudan team.

The South Sudan team's bus rolled into the stadium promptly at 5 pm, two hours ahead of kickoff time. In contrast, the Uganda team faced delays and only arrived at the stadium at 6 pm, giving them a narrow window for preparations before the 7 pm kickoff. Despite the rushed warm-up, the Uganda team managed to secure a victory, with Bevis Mugabi's decisive goal in the 47th minute breaking the deadlock.

Following the match, Uganda's Head Coach, Paul Put, expressed disappointment in his team's performance during the first half. He attributed their lackluster display to the late arrival at the stadium and the limited time available for warm-up. In a post-match interview, Paul Put lamented, "I was disappointed in the first 45 minutes, I don't know the reason... but, maybe because we came late to the stadium." The coach acknowledged the challenges they faced due to the delay, citing heavy traffic as the primary cause.

Looking ahead, Paul Put emphasized the need for his team to regroup and focus on the upcoming return leg.

The Cranes are currently leading Group K in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers with an impressive 7 points from the three matches played so far. With an equal number of points, South Africa is closely trailing behind Uganda, but the Cranes hold the advantage in the Head to Head stan1dings against their rivals.

South Africa, also with 7 points, is giving Uganda tough competition in the group. However, the Cranes' two away goals during their encounters with the South African side that ended 2-2 has given them the edge in the standings.

Congo and South Sudan currently occupy the third and fourth positions in the group, with three and zero points, respectively. While both teams have shown glimpses of quality in their performances, they have struggled to match the consistency of Uganda and South Africa.

Uganda Cranes Traveling Squad Released for AFCON 2025 Qualifier Return Leg in Juba

The Uganda Cranes traveling squad has been released for the upcoming return leg match slated for Tuesday, October 15th, in Juba City. 

Goalkeepers:

Isima Watenga, Nafian Alionzi, Charles Lukwago.

Defenders:

Gavin Kizito, Kenneth Semakula, Isaac Muleme, Nicholas Mwere, Abdu Aziz Kayondo, Bevis Mugabi, Timothy Awany, Halid Lwaliwa, Arnold Odong, Elio Caprodosi.

Midfielders:

Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Taddeo Lwanga, Ronald Ssekiganda, Allan Okello, Travis Mutyaba, Saidi Mayanja.

Forwards:

Denis Omedi, Jude Ssemugabi, Shafik Kwikiriza, Rogers Mato, Derrick Nsibambi, Steven Mukwala, Calvin Kabuye.