Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named a 28-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, offering an early indication of the players he is considering as Uganda prepares to co-host the tournament.
The squad marks a change from the group largely used at the previous Afcon, with captain Khalid Aucho among the notable omissions.
Defenders Jordan Obita and Elio Capradossi have also been left out. Obita is dealing with an injury sustained at his Scottish club Hibernian.
Capradossi’s omission follows a reported fallout with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations during the previous Afcon tournament. The Italian-born defender has since returned from injury and is with Romanian club Universitatea Cluj, where he has been an unused substitute in the club’s last three games.
Veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango remains in the squad for the qualifiers. Uganda is scheduled to face Tunisia on Sept. 24 and again on Sept. 29 in Hoima.
The Cranes will also play two friendly matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo, coached by former Uganda boss Sébastien Desabre.
Put has handed recalls to former Uganda under-17 and under-20 player Sadam Masereka and Noble Okello, both of whom play in the second tier of the football league structure in the United States.
Masereka, who predominantly plays on the right wing, features for Colorado Springs Switchbacks, while Okello is with Lexington. Okello previously represented Canada at under-17 and under-20 level.
Joseph Sseremba, a box-to-box midfielder, has also received his first senior call-up after rising through Kigezi HomeBoyz, NEC and Nairobi United over the past two seasons.
Villa goalkeeper David Lukwago has also been included after impressing last season.
With Salim Jamal currently without a club and Ismail Watenga only recently returning from a long-term injury, Put selected NEC goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo for the third goalkeeping position.
The defenders are Toby Sibbick of Burton Albion, Jonathan Odongo of UPPC, Rogers Torach of CS Constantine, Aziz Kayondo of Slovan Liberec, Herbert Achayi of KCCA FC, Herbert Bockhorn of FC Magdeburg, Nathan Asiimwe of Salford City, Geofrey Lubanga Kene of SC Villa, Hillary Mukundane of Vipers SC and Gavin Kizito of Nairobi United.
The midfield options are Baba Alhassan of Mardin 1996 Spor, Noble Okello of Lexington SC, Kenneth Semakula of Al Ittihad Alexandria, Allan Oyirwoth of Dunfermline FC and Joseph Seremba of Nairobi United.
The forwards are James Bogere of AGF, Travis Mutyaba of CS Sfaxien, Denis Omedi of Gor Mahia, Rogers Mato of Hearts, Hassan Mubiru of Azam, Sadam Masereka of Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Steven Mukwala of Al Nasr, Richard Basangwa of NEC FC and Frank Ssebufu of SC Villa.
The September-October international window will run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6, giving Uganda four matches during the period.
