By Spy Uganda
Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has issued a statement noting that Tuesday 25th April 2023 being the deadline set by CAF for all federations to submit names of venues to be used for the qualifiers due in June, the FUFA Executive has taken a decision to host the Uganda Cranes next AFCON 2023 home fixture against Algeria in Cameroon.
The federation says the decision comes after FUFA inspected Mandela National Stadium on Monday 24th April 2023 and confirmed that the Stadium is not ready to host the qualifiers that resume in June.
“However, FUFA expresses its disappointment at the latest ongoing works at Mandela National Stadium following yesterday’s routine site visit by the Minister of State for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim and Stadium officials,” says FUFA in a statement issued to the press.
FUFA has described the work as very slow and insenstive to cries of the public to be able to host the matches in Uganda.
Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Sports Minister for State Hon. Peter Ogwang assured the country recently that in June Uganda would host CAF games in Namboole.
Uganda Cranes hosted their recent qualifier against Tanzania at a neutral ground, 4000 km away in Ismailia, Egypt, which cost the nation around UGX 7.7 million per minute, and also saw the Cranes lose 1-0 to neighbours Tanzania.
“Madam Speaker, first of all on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, I want to apologize to the entire country for making the Uganda Cranes play in Egypt,” Ogwang said.
“As of now, I want to confirm that our program as a Ministry and particularly a client, we want the stadium ready by first of June.”
“And I have given that (ultimatum) to the contractor to make sure that we have the stadium ready by June 1,” Ogwang stressed.
“They must make sure that by that deadline, they have completed the work to make it able for the country to use the stadium and have all CAF requirements fulfilled.”
Uganda has played only one game at the Mandela National Stadium in the last four years – a 2-0 victory over Malawi in March 2021 – and have won only two of the seven qualifiers they have played away from the stadium.
