Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put says his team is still firmly in the hunt for a place at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Somalia at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Monday night.
First-half goals from Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi secured Uganda’s fifth win in eight matches, keeping the Cranes in contention for both automatic qualification and one of the best second-place spots.
Okello converted a 4th-minute penalty after Abdul Aziz Kayondo was fouled, before Ssemugabi doubled the lead in the 39th minute, reacting quickest after Somalia goalkeeper Muhammad Juma spilled Steven Mukwala’s shot.
Despite the win, Uganda lacked the sharpness seen in last week’s 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique. Goalkeeper Salim Jamal struggled with aerial balls, while Mukwala missed several chances, including an open-net sitter in the 52nd minute.
Paul Put: We’re still in the race
Speaking after the match, Paul Put praised his players’ fighting spirit but admitted there’s room for improvement.
“We are still in the race. It’s positive we’ve scored four goals in the last two games. Against Algeria, our plan was to control the game and we did.”
The Belgian coach is already eyeing Uganda’s next fixtures, especially the crunch clash against Algeria — a match he views personally:
“Facing Algeria will be special for me. I missed the World Cup with Burkina Faso because Algeria knocked us out. That memory drives me, and it motivates the team too as we prepare for Botswana first.”
Put also hailed the passionate home fans, calling them Uganda’s “12th man.”
“I’m happy for the supporters. They make every opponent feel like they’re facing 12 players, not 11.”
Cranes close the gap
The victory lifts Uganda to 15 points, cutting Algeria’s lead at the top of Group G to four points after the Desert Foxes were held to a goalless draw by Guinea.
With two matches remaining, away to Botswana and Algeria, the Cranes’ qualification hopes remain alive. A win in Gaborone would set up a decisive final showdown with Algeria while also keeping Uganda in contention for a best second-place finish.
Top scorers driving the charge
Rogers Mato and Allan Okello lead Uganda’s scoring charts with three goals each, contributing half of the team’s total goals in the campaign.
Reflecting on the Somalia win, one of the top scorers said:
“We’re happy as a team. We wanted six points from the last two games, and we’ve achieved that. The fans have been amazing, they’ve pushed us every step of the way.”
Next up: Botswana away
Uganda now shifts focus to Botswana, knowing victory there would keep World Cup dreams alive.
“This team is hungry,” Put said. “We’ve fought our way back into the race, and we’ll keep pushing until the very end.”
