The Uganda Cranes are set to face Libya in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at Hoima City Stadium, marking a significant moment for football in the Bunyoro sub-region. The match, scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m., is the first-ever international football match to be hosted at the stadium. This event is a milestone in Uganda's preparations to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
Both the Uganda Cranes and the Libyan national team arrived at Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District on Sunday ahead of the highly anticipated encounter. Although Uganda has already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as one of the host nations, the Cranes are participating in the qualifiers to maintain competitive readiness ahead of the tournament.
For football enthusiasts in Bunyoro, the fixture represents more than a qualifying match. Residents like Geofrey Tumwesige see the match as a landmark moment, giving them an opportunity to watch the national team compete on home soil. Others, including Joseph Kirumira and Michael Akugizibwe, are excited to experience the first international match at Hoima City Stadium and have called on residents to turn up in large numbers to support the Uganda Cranes.
The match is being seen as an important step in the decentralisation of national-team football in Uganda. It is the first competitive international fixture involving the Uganda Cranes to be played outside the Kampala metropolitan area, apart from matches played under the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) competitions.
Hoima City Stadium was constructed by SUMMA as part of Uganda's preparations to host the continental tournament. The 20,000-seater multi-purpose stadium is located on 34 acres of land in Kyarwiru Cell, Hoima East Division, and is among the venues selected to host matches during AFCON 2027.
The construction of the stadium reportedly cost 129 million US dollars and was fully financed through Uganda's Petroleum Fund, supported by revenues from the country's oil and gas resources. The facility is equipped to host major sporting and continental events, potentially bringing players, officials, media, and thousands of fans to the Bunyoro region.
The Uganda-Libya encounter offers an early test of the facility's ability to host international football while giving football fans in Bunyoro a chance to experience the national team on their doorstep. Rogers Ahumuza applauded the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) for selecting Hoima City Stadium as the venue for the long-awaited fixture.
Key points
- The match marks a significant moment for football in the Bunyoro sub-region and another milestone in Uganda's preparations to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament.
- The stadium was constructed at a cost of 129 million US dollars and features VVIP sections, an indoor arena, and modern changing rooms with gyms.
- The match is an important step in the decentralisation of national-team football in Uganda, being the first competitive international fixture involving the Uganda Cranes outside the Kampala metropolitan area.
