Uganda Cranes’ provisional squad was released on Saturday as preparations for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) hit high gear.
Since the release of the 41-man squad, there has been a lot of confusion in regard to some of the players who are either out of contract at their respective clubs or those who have moved to foreign clubs, per reports.
Some of the players in that category include: Ronald Otti, Ronald Ssekiganda, Jude Ssemugabi and Patrick Jonah Kakande, among others.
According to CAF regulations on players that can feature at CHAN, only those with binding contracts are eligible.
Article 38.2 stipulates that “Only players with permanent contract registered in a local club affiliated to their national association are eligible to participate in the African Nations Championship.”
The aforementioned clause would therefore rule out several players who have reportedly signed for clubs outside Uganda.
However, a player’s transfer can only be considered done after attaining the International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
An International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is a FIFA requirement for players aged 10 and above who are moving to a new national football association. It ensures the player’s registration is properly transferred and helps protect both the player and the clubs involved.
The ITC process is managed by the respective national associations through FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS).
In the case of Ssekiganda and Ssemugabi, who have reportedly signed for APR in Rwanda and Jamus FC of South Sudan, respectively are yet to receive the ITC.
It is therefore highly likely that FUFA will hold on to confirm ITC for some of these players to allow them to play in CHAN.
Additionally, players who have been featuring in the domestic league for at least the last six months but have run down their contracts are reportedly allowed to play.
Ahmed Hussein, the FUFA Communications Director, confirmed that this has been the case in the previous editions, where players who have just run out their contracts are allowed to play.
“Out of contact players who have been playing in the League are eligible to play and that has been the case in the previous editions,” he told Kawowo Sports.
CHAN 2024 will take place between 2nd -30th August 2025 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
