Uganda Cranes Recruit Nigerian Goalkeepers for AFCON 2027

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has strengthened its national team by recruiting two Nigerian goalkeepers, Akpan Udoh and Kingdom Osayi, as part of a broader strategy to enhance the Uganda Cranes ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. FUFA identified 20 players of Ugandan heritage from a pool of over 200 professionals worldwide, with nine players, including Udoh and Osayi, already joining the squad in camp.

Udoh, who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with Nigeria's Golden Eaglets in 2015, is eligible to represent Uganda through his grandparent, Auma, born in Busia, Uganda. Osayi, who previously played in the Nigeria Premier Football League, is eligible through his maternal grandmother from Kaberamaido, Uganda.

Currently, he plays for Swedish club Assyriska FF. FUFA's recruitment is part of a three-pronged strategy aimed at improving domestic club football and developing structured academies, with ongoing engagements for the remaining identified players.