The Uganda Cranes will take on Zanzibar on June 11, 2026, in a commemorative international match organized to mark the 100th anniversary of the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF). The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) confirmed that it had accepted an invitation from ZFF to participate in the centenary celebrations. The match will be played at the newly constructed Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, with kick-off scheduled for 8:15 p.m. East Africa Time.
Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named a 22-man squad composed entirely of locally based players for the fixture. Midfielder Kenneth Semakula is the only unattached player included in the team. The squad is expected to begin preparations today at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo ahead of the trip to Zanzibar. The fixture comes after the cancellation of two international friendly matches that Uganda had scheduled during the June FIFA international window in Morocco.
The Cranes were expected to face Tanzania on June 5 and Madagascar on June 8 at Stade de Marrakech as part of preparations for upcoming competitive assignments. FUFA Director of Communications Ahmed Hussein said the cancellations were communicated through the match organizers following guidance from relevant authorities.
“The two international friendly matches against Tanzania and Madagascar have been cancelled due to sanitary and public health considerations as communicated by authorities through our match agents,” Hussein said. He noted that the Zanzibar match offers an important opportunity for locally based players to gain international exposure and maintain match fitness despite the cancellation of the Morocco friendlies.
“The match against Zanzibar provides another valuable opportunity for our locally based players to represent the country on the international stage and continue preparations for future competitions,” Hussein added. The encounter will also allow the technical team to assess domestic talent while strengthening sporting ties between Uganda and Zanzibar during the landmark celebrations of the island’s football governing body. For Uganda, the match helps fill the gap left by the cancelled friendlies and ensures players remain active during the June international window-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
