Uganda Cranes celebrate a goal - Photo Courtesy FUFA.
Former Uganda Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa has heaped praise on head coach Paul Put for leading Uganda to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Uganda, who sealed their spot from Group K with two games to spare, will be making another appearance on the continental stage and Mwesigwa believes the team’s success is largely due to merit-based player selection and improved support structures.
“I give credit to head coach Paul Put for all his efforts throughout the campaign,” Mwesigwa said in an exclusive interview. “His selection has been entirely based on merit, summoning players who actively play for their clubs both locally and internationally. In previous years, some players would be summoned without even having clubs or actively playing.”
The former Cranes skipper singled out Put’s decision not to include Elio Caprodossi, a talented defender in the final group games due to his lack of a club, as a bold but necessary move.
“Put introduced Ugandans to Elio Carprodossi, who is a brilliant defender, but because he is currently without a club, he didn’t consider him for the final group games. This to me has been key in our qualification.”
Mwesigwa also acknowledged the efforts of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and the government in providing necessary support to the team. “I thank FUFA and the government for supporting the team in all possible ways. I believe we can perform better at AFCON in Morocco if we continue with the same spirit and the lads knowing what they want.”
Mwesigwa’s Legacy and Reflections Mwesigwa, who captained the Uganda Cranes for several years during his 11-year international career, earned 72 caps before retiring. He has since transitioned into education business , serving as the director of AMESCO High School.
Reflecting on his playing days, he emphasized the importance of discipline and consistency, qualities he believes the current team is beginning to embrace under Paul Put’s leadership. Uganda’s AFCON Journey Uganda Cranes sealed their qualification after a strong campaign in Group K.
Although they recently fell 2-0 to South Africa at Namboole Stadium, their early success in the qualifiers meant they had already secured their spot. The Cranes are set to play their final group game this evening away to Congo Brazzaville, aiming to close out the campaign on a high note.
Σχόλια