Uganda are set to reinforce the national team with Nigerian goalkeepers Akpan Udoh and Kingdom Osayi among 20 heritage players identified as eligible to represent the country.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations, FUFA, said consultants tasked with tracing Ugandan heritage players identified more than 200 professionals worldwide before narrowing the list to 20 potential Uganda Cranes players.
Nine of those selected, including Udoh and Osayi, have already joined the squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya and a friendly with DR Congo.
“In order to strengthen the Uganda National Teams, FUFA has embarked on a three-fold approach for the short and long term,” the federation said on its official website.
“As part of the plan to prepare the Uganda Cranes for the AFCON 2027 Finals, FUFA will use the AFCON Qualifiers as the means to identify and create cohesion among the best Ugandan footballers to represent the country.”
“FUFA can confirm that nine of the 20 identified players have arrived and joined the Uganda Cranes contingent at Marriott Hotel in Kampala, ahead of the team’s flight to Hoima for the crucial AFCON 2027 Qualifier against Libya, and the upcoming international friendlies against DR Congo during this FIFA window.”
The Ugandan squad travelled on Sunday ahead of the Libya fixture.
FUFA’s profile states that Udoh, a member of Nigeria’s 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team, qualifies through his grandmother, Auma, who was born in Busia, Uganda.
The goalkeeper featured in all of Nigeria’s matches during the title-winning campaign but has yet to earn a Super Eagles call-up.
Osayi, meanwhile, began his professional career with the now-defunct MFM before joining Doma United. FUFA says his maternal grandmother was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda.
The 22-year-old now plays for Swedish side Assyriska FF and kept 15 clean sheets in 29 appearances for Doma United before his 2024 departure.
FUFA said the heritage recruitment forms part of a wider three-part plan that also focuses on strengthening domestic club football and establishing structured academies.
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