Elio Capradossi in as Paul Put names Cranes 28 man squad

Paul Put has this morning summoned a 28 squad in preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria on the 7th and 10th June respectively.

The Cranes are set to return to action at the Mandela National Stadium for the first time since March 2019 next month with two home games, this comes on the back of Botswana head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa announcing his squad on the 15th May camping the Zebras a week earlier than the Cranes.

Put’s squad has blended in a mixture of youngsters Jonah Kakande, Travis Mutyaba and Sekiganda with seasoned veterans like Aucho khalid, Fahad Bayo and Lwaliwa and the tactician is trying to redefine the Cranes attacking philosophy.

Kitara FC agile striker Omedi Denis is a notable inclusion and has been rewarded with a call up after scoring 15 goals in 21 appearances behind Top scorer Muhammed Shaban.

The team consists of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders, and nine forwards, with rookie faces, Elio Capradossi, who plays for Serie B side Calcio Lecco FC in Italy, the defender had his upbringing with the Roma youth academy, captained Roma’s U19 team to victory in the 2015–2016 Italian U19 Championship.

Uganda, placed 3rd in Group G, will face Botswana on June 7 and Algeria on June 10, 2024.

Uganda Cranes Squad

Goalkeepers:

• Isima Bid Rashid Watenga (Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, South Africa)
• Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia)
• Crispus Kusiima (Kitara FC, Uganda)
• Braddy Jeans Wokorach (SC Villa, Uganda)

Defenders:

• Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland)
• Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa, Uganda)
• Isaac Muleme (FK Victoria Zizkov, Czech Republic)
• Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic)
• Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC, Uganda)
• Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC, Scotland)
• Timothy Denis Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel)
• Elio Capradossi (Calcio Lecco FC, Italy)
• Halidi Lwaliwa (FK Bregainica Stip, North Macedonia)

Midfielders:

• Khalid Aucho (Yanga SC, Tanzania)
• Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC, USA)
• Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda)
• Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda)
• Ibrahim Kasule (New York Red Bull II, USA)
• Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt)

Forwards:

• Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko FC, Ghana)
• Uchechukwu Mubiru Ikpeazu (Port Vale, England)
• Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda)
• Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC, Uganda)
• Fahad Aziz Bayo (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic)
• Rogers Kassim Mato (Brera Strumica)
• Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda)
• Umar Lutalo (SC Villa, Uganda)
• Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda)