Uganda Cranes will resume their quest for a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance later this month with two crucial fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Head coach Paul Put is set to unveil his squad for the doubleheader against Mozambique and Guinea on Monday during a press conference at the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) headquarters in Mengo.
Among the expected call-ups is striker Muhammad Shaban, whose Libyan club Al Anwar confirmed his selection via their social media platforms as a way of congratulating him.
This marks a return to the national team for Shaban, who last featured for the Cranes on September 9, 2024, in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville at Namboole. He started that game but was forced off before halftime due to injury, with Jude Ssemugabi replacing him.
Shaban has already made an impact in the World Cup qualifiers, scoring Uganda’s lone goal in their 1-0 victory over Botswana at Namboole, courtesy of a Denis Omedi assist.
The Cranes will face Mozambique’s Mambas on March 20 at Cairo International Stadium in Egypt before returning home to host Guinea on March 25 in Kampala.
Placed in Group G, Uganda currently sits fifth on the table with six points, level with Botswana and Guinea while Algeria leads with nine points.
Only the group winners will secure direct qualification for the final tournament in Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
The four best runners-up across all groups will enter a mini-tournament, where the winner will advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Offs.
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