Inviting players of Ugandan heritage has become a progressive hallmark of the Uganda Cranes’ new era – a deliberate strategy aimed at deepening the talent pool and improving competitiveness on the international stage.
Head coach Paul Joseph Put has once again embraced this philosophy with the inclusion of Baba Alhassan in his 26-man squad for the November international window, which features friendlies against Chad and Morocco.
Alhassan, a 25-year-old central midfielder who plays for FCSB (Steaua Bucharest) in Romania, is eligible to join the Cranes with his mother, reportedly Ugandan.
Until this call-up, he had been widely known as Ghanaian – born in Accra on 3 January 2000 – but reports indicate his dual heritage made him eligible for the Cranes under FIFA’s nationality rules.
“I am excited to see how he will play for us in the next few weeks and in the future,” said Coach Paul Put, speaking ahead of the team’s camp.
“In him, we have a box-to-box midfielder who is very good on the ball, strong physically, and has the right mentality.”
“Tonight he plays in the Europa League – and that gives us a clear picture of the kind of quality we now have in our squad.”
Put’s statement emphasizes Uganda’s broader vision of blending local talent with players developed abroad – a model that has successfully elevated other African national teams.
The Cranes are aiming to strengthen their midfield structure with more tactical discipline, ball retention, and athleticism – all traits that Alhassan brings in abundance.
Alhassan began his football journey at the African Talent Football Academy in Ghana before moving to Europe, where he joined Real Valladolid B in Spain in 2018.
In 2020, he transferred to FC Hermannstadt in Romania, where he made a strong impression with his energy, consistency, and goal-scoring instincts from midfield.
During the 2022-23 Liga I season, he registered 6 goals and 2 assists, earning a move in early 2024 to Romanian giants FCSB (Steaua Bucharest).
His current contract runs until June 2028, and he has already established himself as a regular starter in the club’s midfield, featuring both in Liga I and the UEFA Europa League.
This season, Alhassan has already logged 17 appearances across all competitions for FCSB, boasting a pass-completion rate above 90% and averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game.
Though not a prolific goal scorer, his influence comes from his ball-winning ability, transitional play, and positional awareness – attributes that make him an ideal link between defence and attack.
Standing around 1.80 metres tall, Alhassan is a strong, athletic, and technically composed midfielder – equally comfortable in a holding role or as a box-to-box operator.
He is known for his clean ball recovery, tactical intelligence, and calmness under pressure.
His European experience – especially at a club like FCSB, where the expectations and tempo are high – gives him the sort of tactical maturity and professionalism that could immediately elevate the Cranes’ central unit.
While Ghana has a vast pool of midfield talent, Alhassan representing Uganda is a significant boost for the East African nation.
His addition gives Uganda access to a player molded in the European system but emotionally connected to the Cranes’ cause – a perfect embodiment of the new dual-heritage generation.
With his European pedigree, Alhassan joins a growing list of players with Ugandan roots contributing to the national team’s rebuild under Coach Put including the defense partnership of Elio Capradossi and Jordan Obita.
His presence could also inspire more players of Ugandan descent abroad to commit to the national project.
Uganda’s upcoming friendlies against Chad and Morocco will serve as Alhassan’s first test in national colours and a chance for Put to experiment with his new midfield options.
The Cranes’ technical bench will closely monitor how quickly he integrates, especially in terms of chemistry with Uganda’s already established midfielders such as Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Kenneth Ssemakula, and Ronald Ssekiganda among others.
From the bustling streets of Accra to the grand stage of the UEFA Europa League, and now onto the international platform with Uganda, Baba Alhassan’s journey is both inspiring and symbolic of modern African football’s global evolution.
“He’s a complete midfielder – strong, intelligent, and ambitious. We’re excited to see what he brings to the Cranes, now and in the future.”
For Uganda, this isn’t just another international call-up – it’s a statement of intent. The Cranes are building for the future, and Baba Alhassan might just be the heartbeat of that new era.
