The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President, Moses Magogo, has urged fans to exercise patience as the Uganda Cranes, the national football team, is still a work in progress and has not yet reached its full potential.
Despite leading Group K in the ongoing AFCON 2025 Qualifiers, Magogo emphasized that the squad is composed mainly of inexperienced players who need more time to grow.
Uganda Cranes has secured four points from two games so far, drawing 2-2 away to South Africa and clinching a 2-0 victory over Congo at Namboole.
However, during a recent interview on the federation’s television channel, Magogo advised fans not to get carried away by these results.
“Let us not get excited. This team is not ready,” Magogo stated. “Apart from Joseph Ochaya, Isaac Muleme, Khalid Lwaliwa, and Bevis Mugabi, most of the players in the squad have less than 10 caps. They need the experience of playing against strong teams.”
The current Cranes squad features a youthful core, including promising talents such as Allan Okello, Aziz Kayondo, and Rogers Mato.
Magogo stated that while the team shows promise, transitioning young players into seasoned internationals is a delicate process.
“Fans need to give these young players time,” Magogo urged. “The failure rate in transitions is high, but if we are patient, the rewards will come.”
However, the FUFA president expressed optimism about the future, believing that in four to five years, Uganda Cranes will become a dominant force on the continent.
“I believe this team will be a formidable side and a force to reckon with in the next 4-5 years,” Magogo said. “That is when the experience they are gaining now will truly pay off.”
Uganda Cranes will play South Sudan next month in a double-header fixture, hoping to keep their AFCON qualification campaign on a high.
Wins in the fixtures will guarantee Uganda a spot at next year’s continental tournament for the first time since 2019. The country will then co-host the competition in 2027, together with Kenya and Tanzania.
