Uganda Cranes kept their World Cup dream alive after edging Botswana 1-0 in a tense encounter in Francistown, a result that ensures Paul Put’s side remain in contention for a playoff berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
It was not a game of many chances, but it was one of immense significance — and Jude Ssemugabi’s well-timed header early in the second half proved to be the difference. The forward’s strike, coming off an Allan Okello corner, sealed Uganda’s fourth win of the campaign and preserved their mathematical chance of advancing to the next stage.
The night also carried emotional weight as Denis Onyango marked his long-awaited return to international duty, ending a three-year absence since his retirement in 2021. The veteran goalkeeper, making his 85th appearance for the Cranes, brought calmness and leadership to a backline that faced little real threat from the hosts.
Although Uganda dominated possession and dictated the tempo for much of the match, they struggled to convert their control into clear-cut opportunities. Rogers Mato came closest in the first half with a curling effort that was expertly denied by the Botswana goalkeeper.
Elsewhere in the group, Algeria’s 3-0 victory over Somalia confirmed the Desert Foxes as automatic qualifiers from Group G, leaving Uganda to fight for one of the four playoff slots reserved for the best second-placed teams across all nine African qualifying groups.
With 18 points now on the board and one game remaining, Uganda sit second in Group G and fifth among all group runners-up — a position that keeps their World Cup ambitions very much alive heading into the final round.
