In a bid to create a formidable team ahead of AFCON 2027, FUFA is making several interventions to improve the Uganda Cranes’ composition.
One of those avenues is the naturalisation of players who have Ugandan heritage and roots but have grown and lived abroad.
On Sunday, as the team left Kampala for Hoima City ahead of the AFCON 2027 Qualifier game against Libya, nine new faces were revealed.
Already, two of the new players, Nathan Asiimwe and Noble Okello, featured in the game against Tunisia on Thursday.
Others include: Abdoulaye Sissako, Akpan David Udoh, Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi, Souleyman Diaby, Arnold Vula, Kelvin Owusu Boateng and Kingdom Osayi.
Some are likely to feature in the game against Libya on Tuesday, while most of them could play in the two friendly games against DR Congo next month.
Kawowo Sports recently wrote a story about some of the notable names that could feature for Uganda Cranes, and most of the names mentioned above were listed.
Below is a brief profile of each of the players
Abdoulaye Sissako – Midfielder – Sint-Truiden (Belgium)
Born on 26 May 1998 in France, Sissako plays in the Belgian Pro League. A former French U18 and U19 international. He is of Malian and Ugandan descent, with his parents born in Mali and his grandmother, Sakona, born in Kampala, Uganda.
Akpan David Udoh – Goalkeeper – Mosta FC (Malta)
Born 18 July 1999, Udoh won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in 2015. Udoh is eligible for Uganda through his grandparent, Auma, who was born in Busia, Uganda.
Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi – Defensive Midfielder/Centre-back – Rakow Czestochowa (Poland)
Born on 15 January 2001, Debohi was born to Ivorian parents from Kouibly, but his maternal grandmother, Tereza Wandera, was born in Majanji, Uganda.
Souleyman Diaby – Left-back – FC Winterthur (Switzerland)
Born on 8 October 1999 to Ivorian parents, his maternal grandfather is Sulaiman Sonko from Masaka, Uganda.
Arnold Vula – Forward – K. Beerschot VA (Belgium)
Born 26 March 1999, the forward plays in Belgium’s second division. He was born to Congolese parents, but his paternal grandmother was born in Pakwach, Uganda, and his Congolese grandfather lived in the same area.
Kelvin Owusu Boateng – Centre-Forward/Striker – Austria Vienna (Austria)
Born on 24 March 2000, Kelvin was born to Ghanaian parents from Accra, but one of his grandparents was born in Uganda. Standing at 1.84m, he is expected to add physical presence and pace to the Uganda Cranes’ attacking force. He went through the famous Right to Dream Academy.
Kingdom Osayi – Goalkeeper – Assyriska FF (Sweden)
Born on 3 June 2004 to Nigerian parents, his maternal grandmother was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda. Standing at 1.98m, he brings youth and height to the Uganda Cranes Goalkeeping Department
FUFA has done more harm than good in destroying Uganda football
Can we get Mukasa Divine?
Am in hoima but we are not coming to support west Africans. We have able players here. Don’t manipulate our players
It’s a good idea in bringing those new players but why is it that they’re are all related by parents .
Let fufa bring in players that originated from uganda not by relatives of grandparents, two we have divine nukasa, and kavuma, I expected to see such players, in our up coming games, plz let the federation work on that cz as Ugandans we also want to watch a beautiful flower games and we also want our country to wine games, uganda has talent, but I really don’t understand why we don’t even go far in bigger tournaments,
I am just requesting the ugandan players that no one can make for yoy history, but you, yourself can make it.
Imagine!
Not a good idea at’all…..
We have lots of great players here who need nothing like concocting
their nationality.
With All the endorsement uganda has we are now using foreign players in the name sourcing players? Development of football is done from the grassroot, academy, football facilities and training, to professionalization not bringing back colonialism. Before we’re taken to the courts of arbitration, let them step aside and we get patriotic nationals who can do the right thing. From semeon masaba, to abdulaye siseko?
I don’t mind colonial boundaries, anyone who pledges allegiance to belonging anywhere they love is welcome! Our continent was borderless until the colonial partitions achieved what they were intended for! Dis uniting us and making us enemies to each other! Welcome home lads 👏