Former KCCA and Express goalkeeper Salim Jamal Magoola has voiced his frustration over being left out of the Uganda Cranes squad setup to face South Africa and Congo in the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put on Tuesday unveiled a 28-man provisional squad, which included three goalkeepers: Isima Watenga of Golden Arrows FC, Nafian Alionzi of Defence Forces FC, and Charles Lukwago from Venda FC.
However, Jamal, currently playing for Richards Bay FC in South Africa, was notably absent from the list.
Jamal, known for his outspoken nature, took to his official X (formerly Twitter) platform on Thursday morning to express his dissatisfaction with the decision.
The goalkeeper, who last featured for the national team in November 2023 during a 2-1 loss to Guinea in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, believes he is being unfairly excluded from the squad due to allegations of indiscipline.
In his post, Jamal stated, “I made peace with the Uganda Cranes, but framing me out as an indisciplined player must stop. If you don’t like someone, it’s okay to support others.”
He defended his conduct, insisting that being straightforward should not be mistaken for indiscipline.
“Being straight isn’t indiscipline, and I have never been an indisciplined player. Played for six professional clubs, no suspension,” he added.
Jamal was also left out of Paul Put’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria in June this year.
His forthrightness has often brought him into conflict with football governing bodies and other stakeholders.
His tensions FUFA date back to 2019 when he clashed with then MP for Aruu County, Odonga Otto, who criticized a group of Uganda Cranes players, including Jamal, for demanding bonuses during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Jamal responded sharply to Otto’s comments, which led to a summons by FUFA over alleged indiscipline.
In 2020, Jamal was involved in another dispute when he dragged his then club, Al Hilal Sports Club of Sudan, to FIFA over a breach of contract, eventually leaving the club in 2021.
Despite these controversies, Jamal’s talent has never been in question. After moving to South Africa in 2022, he impressed at Richards Bay FC, earning a recall to the national team by coach Micho for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania.
Jamal’s strong performances, including 11 clean sheets in his first 22 appearances for Richards Bay, positioned him as a potential successor to former Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango on the national team.
Notably, Jamal was part of the squad that faced Algeria in June 2023, a match where Uganda lost 2-1, and the goalkeeper took to social media to apologize for an error that led to Algeria’s opening goal.
