The Uganda Cranes have safely arrived in South Africa ahead of two international friendly matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The team, led by FUFA Executive Committee Member Ronald Barente as Leader of Delegation, is accommodated at Hotel Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg. The friendlies come at an important stage of Uganda's preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Uganda will face DR Congo on October 2 and October 5, 2026, in a double-header that will provide head coach Paul Put and his technical team an opportunity to assess the squad. The Cranes contingent has settled in as preparations for the two encounters continue. The friendlies will help the technical team evaluate players, test combinations, and build match readiness ahead of the November FIFA international window.
During the November window, Uganda will play back-to-back AFCON 2027 qualifier matches against Botswana, making the South Africa camp crucial for the team. Several changes have been made to the squad that featured in Uganda's recent international assignments against Tunisia and Libya. Captain Denis Onyango, Rogers Mato, Abdu Aziizi Kayondo, Nathan Asiimwe, and Noble Okello have missed the trip following a decision by the technical team.
Meanwhile, Toto Majub Brian and Sadam Masereka, who were called up for the recent matches against Tunisia and Libya but did not feature in those games, have been added to the travelling squad for the DR Congo friendlies. The changes have opened an opportunity for other players to stake their claim as the technical team continues to assess the available options ahead of the November qualifiers.
The Cranes squad in South Africa comprises four goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders, and eight forwards. The squad includes players such as Hannington Ssebwalunyo, David Lukwago, Kingdom Osayi, and Akpan Udoh in goal, while defenders include Rogers Torach, Kenneth Semakula, Diaby Souleymane, and Toby Sibbick.
The two matches against DR Congo will form part of Uganda's wider preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualification campaign. With the November international window set to bring two competitive fixtures against Botswana, the technical team will be keen to use the South Africa camp to continue shaping the squad and identifying the combinations that can be relied upon when the qualifiers resume.
The first encounter against DR Congo is scheduled for October 2, with the second match to follow on October 5. With the team already settled in Sandton, attention now turns to preparations on the training ground before the Cranes take on their Central African opponents in the first of the two friendly matches.
Key points
- The Uganda Cranes have arrived in South Africa for two international friendlies against DR Congo ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
- The friendlies will help the technical team evaluate players and build match readiness ahead of the November FIFA international window.
- Uganda will face DR Congo on October 2 and October 5, 2026, in a double-header.
