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Denis Onyango during a recovery session in Botswana
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Sports Desk
The Uganda Cranes contingent in Gaborone, Botswana, is now at full strength after all the summoned players joined camp ahead of their FIFA World Cup Group G qualifier against hosts Botswana on Thursday.
The latest arrivals on Tuesday were Travis Mutyaba and Rogers Mato, who joined shortly after veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Joseph Mpande, and first-choice custodian Salim Omar Magoola reported on Monday evening.
Uganda Cranes players during training
The team held its final training session on Tuesday evening and is expected to fly to Francistown on Wednesday afternoon for final preparations ahead of the crucial encounter scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025. Coincidentally, Uganda’s match will take place on the same day the nation—both at home and abroad—celebrates its 63rd Independence Anniversary.
Ugandan Nigerian Ikpeazu Mubiru
The team’s training base in Gaborone has, over the past three days, attracted members of the Ugandan community living in Botswana, who have shown strong support by attending sessions and donning national team colours. Uganda currently sits second in Group G and faces a tough battle to qualify, with another away match against table leaders Algeria on Tuesday, October 14, at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Algiers.
Bobosi Byaruhanga is back to the team
Algeria, which tops the group with 19 points—four ahead of Uganda—is likely to qualify automatically with just one more win, possibly against Somalia. This means second-placed Uganda, on 15 points, will be aiming to secure one of the four best runners-up spots to advance to the continental qualification round. The top teams from that stage will represent Africa in the intercontinental playoffs for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Torch Media Africa
