The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has taken a decision to host the Uganda Cranes’ next AFCON 2023 home fixture match against Algeria in Cameroon.
This follows the Tuesday 25th April 2023 deadline set by CAF for all federations to submit names of venues to be used for the qualifiers due in June.
According to FUFA, the decision comes after FUFA inspected Mandela National Stadium on Monday, April 24, 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,” FUFA said in a statement describing the work as very slow and insensitive to cries of the public to be able to host the matches in Uganda.
“I call upon the relevant government authorities to urgently cancel the contracts of the contractors and supervisors and immediately procure experienced service providers in stadium construction even if it means being obtained from outside Uganda. The country is likely to have a delayed project, substandard work and without value for money,” said Magogo, the President of FUFA.
Last month, the State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, apologized to the public for failing to deliver Namboole Stadium in time for the AFCON qualifiers.
He had promised that the first phase would be ready for the next game against Algeria.
“We are going to work hard as much as possible to have our next home game scheduled for 12th June played here in Namboole,” Ogwang said then.