FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo has confirmed that Uganda currently has no stadium to host the forthcoming AFCON Qualifiers.
In the campaign that starts in March, Uganda is in Group F, which has neighbors Tanzania, Algeria, and Niger.
According to Magogo, the latest CAF stadium homologation states that the Uganda Cranes will not have a stadium to host AFCON and World Cup qualifiers in Uganda.
Homologation is the granting of approval by an official authority.
“CAF has given us until February 10 to be able to submit a stadium that has been homologated by the administrative body. Between now and the deadline, I don’t think there are miracles that can be done for Namboole to be ready,” said Magogo.
He added, “Unfortunately, all our immediate neighbors don’t have stadiums that qualify.”
Tanzania has one, but we are playing against them, so we are looking at nations like Zambia, Malawi, and Egypt, among others.”
It should be noted that the Cranes have been using St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende as their home ground for the AFCON and World Cup Qualifiers.
However, Magogo said that the stadium is ineligible to host international games.
“I am the President of FUFA. We don’t manage; we are just clients at Mandela National Stadium and St Mary’s. We can only raise the noise like any other Ugandan, which we have done through parliament, and that’s how the resources have been availed,” he said.
Last year, the government officially handed over the renovation duties of Namboole Stadium to the UPDF Engineering Brigade. But, it’s not yet specified when the renovations will be completed.