Uganda Targets Nigerian-Born Players With Ugandan Heritage
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has stepped up efforts to attract professional players with Ugandan heritage, including Nigerian-born players, to the Uganda Cranes.
FUFA says it has identified more than 200 professional players around the world who may be eligible to represent Uganda under FIFA rules and Ugandan laws. Twenty players have so far been selected for further engagement, with nine already joining the national team camp.
Among the players linked to Uganda are Nigerian-born goalkeepers Akpan David Udoh and Kingdom Osayi.
Udoh, who plays for Mosta FC in Malta, was part of Nigeria’s squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015. He is eligible to represent Uganda through his grandmother, Auma, who was born in Busia, Uganda.
Osayi, who plays for Swedish club Assyriska FF, was born to Nigerian parents and qualifies through his maternal grandmother, who was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda. The 1.98-metre goalkeeper gives Uganda another option in goal.
FUFA’s heritage recruitment also includes players from different countries and backgrounds, including Abdoulaye Sissako of Sint-Truiden, Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi of Raków Częstochowa, Souleyman Diaby of FC Winterthur, Vula Arnold of Beerschot and Kelvin Owusu Boateng of Austria Vienna.
The list also features Noble Okello Ayo and Nathan Asiimwe, who have already represented Uganda in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
FUFA said the recruitment programme is part of a wider plan to strengthen the Uganda Cranes through heritage players, improved domestic competitions and structured youth academies.
The federation is also working to complete the necessary documentation for the other identified players as it seeks to build a bigger pool of eligible players ahead of the 2027 AFCON finals.
