World Cup Qualifiers: Uganda Cranes desperate to kickstart campaign on a high

World Cup Qualifiers: Uganda Cranes desperate to kickstart campaign on a high|FUFA IMAGE

World Cup Qualifiers: Uganda Cranes desperate to kickstart campaign on a high

Allan Damba • 06:09 - 17.11.2023

Ugandans will mainly be interested in seeing the team's new style, Put's preferred eleven and, of course, the result at first asking.

Uganda Cranes will seek to get their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign to a flying start when they take on Guinea in Morocco later on Friday.

The game will mark the start of the Paul Put era as national team head coach, having been appointed over a week back.

Uganda Cranes in Camp|FUFA IMAGE

The Belgian took over from Serbian tactician Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic, who was sacked following a spell of woeful results.

Today's game will also be the Cranes' first competitive match since they failed to hit the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals, slated for Ivory Coast.

Ugandans will mainly be interested in seeing the team's new style, Put's preferred eleven and, of course, the result at first asking.

It's important to note that FUFA has repeatedly defended the poor results on the pitch to transition, but the latter hasn't evidently come to pass either.

Eyes will be glued on Put about whether he and his technical team will opt for the relatively new blood or choose the old guard, as the sections are both well represented in the 27-man squad.

Notably, key midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga, who is among the faces of the so-called transition, is ruled out, and new-kid-on-the-block Ramz Kawooya took his spot.

The Express FC midfielder has been a revelation this season in the Uganda Premier League, and it awaits to be seen whether he will get a kickin'.

Ramsey Kawooya gestures during a league game recently | Image by Ismail Mulangwa

Returnee Yunus Sentamu, who has shunned the national team for about two years, could be a key force should Uganda need any fluidity in the middle of the park.

The last time Uganda Cranes faced Guinea was on 19th November 2014 in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier match. Guinea won the game 2-0.