Paul Put will begin his reign as head coach of the Uganda Cranes as the country embarks on its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Cranes will begin their journey with a tie against Guinea on Friday before taking on Somalia on Tuesday, both matches to be played in Morocco at the Stade du Municipal in Berkane.
Put, who is no stranger to African football having managed several countries on the continent, understands the challenge that lies ahead.
What the coach and captain said
“Guinea is a strong team with many players who play outside of their country,” he noted.
“We are prepared and we have been doing everything possible to do well. We have to be strong and avoid making mistakes.”
Uganda is placed in Group G alongside Algeria, Somalia, Guinea, Botswana, and Mozambique.
The winner of each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the four best-ranked group runners-up will participate in a play-off to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Despite the tough competition, Cranes captain Khalid Aucho is optimistic about his team’s chances.
“We might have trained for a few days, but the players are ready,” he stated. “We want to make sure we start the campaign with a win. We are going to work hard to achieve it.”
While Uganda’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup have been boosted by the expansion of the tournament, topping a group that includes Algeria or Guinea will be a daunting task.
However, Put and his players are determined to give it their all.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Friday, at 4pm
- Guinea v Uganda
Tuesday
- Somalia v Uganda
Courtesy Photos
