Afcon Pamoja preparations frustrate national football teams’ qualification campaigns
FUFA said it will provide further details on Uganda's participation in these competitions after completing consultations with Government.
Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have taken a toll on another national team, with the Uganda U-23 side, the Kobs, withdrawn from the AFCON U-23 qualifiers.
The decision means Uganda will not face Ethiopia in the two-legged qualifying tie that was scheduled to be played between September 20 and October 6, 2026.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) said the withdrawal has been made in light of the Government’s decision to prioritise preparations for the senior Uganda Cranes ahead of the AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
FUFA described the decision as a painful one but said it was considered necessary to make it early rather than later, given the competing demands on national teams and resources during the AFCON Pamoja preparations.
The withdrawal also affects a generation of players who previously featured for the Uganda U-20 Hippos.
Other National Teams at Risk
FUFA said discussions with Government are still ongoing regarding the participation of several other national teams involved in international competitions over the coming months.
Among the teams whose programmes could be affected are the Uganda Cubs, who are scheduled to compete at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar from November 19 to December 13.
The Cubs are also expected to participate in the 2027 AFCON CECAFA U-17 Zonal Qualifiers in Kigali, scheduled for October 10–25.
The Uganda Rhinos, the national U-15 team, are scheduled to compete at the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan from October 22–31.
The Uganda U-20 Hippos are lined up for the AFCON CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers from September 16–30, while the national men’s beach soccer team, the Sand Cranes, is scheduled to take part in the AFCON Beach Soccer 2026 qualifiers from October 9–18.
The Crested Cranes, Uganda’s senior women’s national team, are also scheduled to face Zambia in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifiers from October 8–16.
FUFA said it will provide further details on Uganda’s participation in these competitions after completing consultations with Government.
The developments highlight the difficult balancing act facing Ugandan football as the country prepares to host the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, while its national teams simultaneously pursue qualification and participation in major continental and global competitions.
For the Kobs, however, the decision brings their 2026 AFCON U-23 qualification campaign to an abrupt end before they could take the field against Ethiopia.
