2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Group G)
- Uganda Cranes 2-0 Somalia
- Guinea 0-0 Algeria
- Mozambique 2-0 Botswana
Uganda Cranes smiled past fellow CECAFA member Somalia 2-0 in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Monday night.
Two first-half goals from talisman Allan Okello (Penalty) and forward Jude Ssemugabi earned the wasteful home side yet another victory in the ongoing campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup road map in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America (USA).
Despite a total dominance of the game with good possession play, the scoreline will never tell the full story.
A brave start witnessed Uganda Cranes take the lead when Okello struck home the opener, a well-executed penalty as early as the fifth minute.
The penalty was awarded by Cote d’Ivoire referee Ibrahim Traore Kalilou after defender Abdulle Abdullani brought down the roving left back Abdul Azizi Kayondo in the forbidden area.
Okello confidently held the ball and placed it to the left of goalkeeper Mohammud Jama who dived the opposite way for the opener.
At this stage, Cranes seemed to be a team on a mission, much to the deafening wild cheers from the stands.
Ssemugabi tapped home the second in the 38th minute when goalkeeper Jama spilt the ball in his path after a powerful header from Steven Desse Mukwala off Kayondo’s inviting ball from the left.
It would have easily been a cricket-like score but suspect finishing from Mukwala and Ssemugabi denied more goals.
There are plenty of lessons to reflect on as we come to the final bend of the campaign.
A home debut for Burton Albion right back Toby Peter Sibbick, the continued dream central defensive partnership of Elio Capradossi and John Jordan Obita as well as Okello’s continued positive display are positives.
From the opening moments of the game, Uganda Cranes expressed the urge to attack with home debutant Sibbick perfecting an overlap on the right flank but his cross into the area was well defended.
In the third minute, left back Kayondo had a cross headed out by Rogers Mato.
Kayondo maintained the surge when he ventured forward and was brought down by Somalia right back Abdulle Abdullani.
The referee Ibrahim Traore Kalilou from Cote d’Ivoire did not hesitate but to point at the spot.
Okello made no mistake with the resultant penalty, sending goalkeeper Mohammud Jama the wrong way for the opener.
On the quarter hour mark, Sibbick delivered another cross into the Somalia goal area which was well defended for a corner kick executed by Okello.
Somalia’s first threat at the Uganda Cranes goal came in the 17th minute when Muhammed Bwana’s shot rolled out of play.
Moments later, Mukwala delivered a cross but Mato and Okello collided as they attempted to head the ball.
In the 31st minute, Kayondo released Mukwala on the left flank who sprinted with the ball for half the field; beating the goalkeeper Jama but the defender Farah Abdirazak recovered to clear the ball off the line.
Ssemugabi headed the ball off a free header from Okello’s curling corner kick.
Habib Abjullahi shot out from an acute angle in the 35th minute for an odd Somalia attack.
Uganda Cranes doubled the lead through Ssemugabi in 38th minute; a typical forward’s poacher goal when the goalkeeper Jama spilled the ball off Mukwala’s initial header after Kayondo’s cross from the left.
The final two chances in the opening half fell to Kayondo and Mukwala who missed at different intervals before the half time break.
Five minutes into the second half; Mukwala watched in disbelief when he missed to tap in from cose range after being set up by Ssemugabi.
Somalia had a forced change in the 53rd minute when Abdulle Abdullani limped out for Hussein Mohammed.
At the same time, Adem Musse was replaced by Mohamed Ahmed and Saad Abdiqadir paved way for Abdi Suleiman.
Sibbick registered a shot on target in the 57th minute from 25 yards before Omar Mohammud got a header off the cross bar from a set piece.
Ssemugabi tapped over Okello’s sweet delivery in 68th minute before Put called for the first change for Uganda; Denis Omedi taking over Mukwala’s place.
Okello had a weak shot on target well tamed by the Somalia goalkeeper Jama before defender Elio Capradossi’s effort was cleared off the line with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Mato headed out Okello’s resultant corner kick.
Somalia called for another change when Bwana Mohammed was replaced by Ahmed Abdulkadir.
Omedi had a cross into the area finding no contact as to find overlapping left back Kayondo at the far flank.
Inside the final 7 minutes; Okello delivered a free-kick and defender Omar Muhammed was well stationed to head out the threat.
With signs of fatigue from either sides’ players, the tempo of the game further slowed down.
The Mpande duo of Joseph Mbolimbo and Reagan were introduced for Mato and Okello respectively for the closing stages of the game.
Uganda now has 15 points, the same as Mozambique who beat Botswana in Maputo earlier in the day.
Algeria, who were held to a goalless draw by Guinea in Morocco, maintain their summit spot with 19 points.
We know where we are going