FUFA confirms new faces on Uganda Cranes team ahead of Libya encounter

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 naturalization of players who have Ugandan heritage and roots but have grown and lived abroad.

On Sunday, as the team left Kampala to Hoima City ahead of the AFCON 2027 Qualifier game against Libya, nine new faces have been 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, Vula Arnold, 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 names mentioned above were listed.

Has FUFA done enough to lure players in the diaspora?

Below is a brief profile of each of the players

Abdoulaye Sissako – Midfielder – Sint-Truiden (Belgium)

Born 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 Sonko Sulaiman from Masaka, Uganda.

Vula Arnold – 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

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