Friday was a special day for Uganda Cranes fans as their team returned to Namboole Stadium and clinched a 1-0 win over Botswana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The match’s highlight came in the 74th minute. Shaban Muhammad, who came off the bench, scored the only goal of the game. The goal was beautifully set up by other substitutes. Bobosi Byaruhanga sent a long pass to Denis Omedi on the right. Omedi then delivered a precise low cross to Shaban, who tapped the ball into the net.
From the start, the Cranes showed strong performance, keeping the Botswana Zebras under pressure. Despite their dominance, the team missed several chances. Fahad Bayo had a great opportunity with a header that went over the bar. Right back Elvis Bwomono also got close twice but couldn’t score.
This win places Uganda among the top teams in their group, alongside Algeria, Guinea, and Mozambique, with each team having six points after three games. The Cranes now look forward to a challenging match against Algeria on Monday at Namboole.
Playing at Namboole for the first time since their 2-0 victory over Malawi in November 2019, the Cranes wanted to make their fans proud. Coach Paul Put chose an aggressive lineup and introduced Elio Capradossi, an Italy-based defender, for his debut.
Capradossi, alongside Halid Lwaliwa at center back, was impressive. He not only defended well but also helped start attacks from the back. Despite the Cranes’ control of the game, it took until the 74th minute for Shaban to break the tie, sending the fans into a joyous celebration.
Uganda Cranes now shift their focus to Monday night where they will be up against table leaders Algeria at the same venue in a must win fixture to increase their chances of World Cup qualification.
