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The famed arena has been shut since 2020 to aid national response to COVID-19 before it was closed for redevelopment in 2021, leaving the Cranes yearning for their home ground advantage.
As Uganda Cranes gear up for the strenuous journey of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is fervently hoping for the availability of the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, for the campaign.
The famed arena has been shut since 2020 to aid national response to COVID-19 before it was closed for redevelopment in 2021, leaving the Cranes yearning for their home ground advantage.
Micho made his appeal apparent in a recent press conference following the qualifying group stage draw in Ivory Coast.
He expressed his longing for a return to Namboole, stating, “The condition of all conditions is that we are no longer orphans, playing elsewhere.”
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“We need to make sure that Namboole is readily available because the qualifiers are starting in November."
“On the other side, we have to have mind that there are 10 matches to be played at home and five games away.”
“It is a long competition, where teams that want to qualify, they need to collect the highest number of points in the end.”
The World Cup qualifiers for Africa are scheduled to commence in November 2023 and continue until October 2025, with the inter-confederation playoffs set for November 2025.
Micho underlined the gravity of these matches, emphasizing that teams aiming to qualify need to accrue the maximum points possible.
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The Serbian acknowledges that Uganda Cranes have been placed in a challenging qualification group.
The Cranes will face the formidable Algerian side, among others, who have already defeated them in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier meetings this year.
The remaining Group G teams include Guinea, Botswana, Mozambique, and Somalia.
This upcoming face-off with Algeria brings back memories of the Cranes' disheartening 2-0 loss in both their 2023 AFCON qualifiers, leaving Uganda's bid to return to the AFCON strained.
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Mozambique, on the other hand, will be a novel adversary for Micho's side, while Somalia, Botswana, and Guinea bring a mixed bag of past encounters.
Undeniably, the path ahead for the Cranes is arduous but not impassable. A triumphant World Cup qualification would be a first for the nation, adding to the stakes of the upcoming matches.
Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup itself is poised for a historical transformation.
The 2026 edition, co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities, will see an unprecedented increase to 48 teams, a marked expansion from the 32-team format of the last seven tournaments.
This alteration brings significant implications for teams like the Uganda Cranes, opening up new possibilities and increased chances for World Cup participation.
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