Uganda national Beach Soccer Team- Sand Cranes has Qualified for the 2020 AFCON Beach Soccer Finals to be hosted by Senegal this year.
Uganda’s opponents Ghana were due to play Uganda over two legs starting with the first fixture at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru on 27th March 2021 but the West African giants withdrew from the tournament.
In a communication sent to FUFA by CAF partly reads;
‘Kindly note that Ghana FA has officially withdrawn from the Beach Soccer AFCON. Accordingly, the above mentioned two qualifying matches have been cancelled and Uganda is automatically qualified to the Final Tournament of Beach Soccer AFCON’
The FUFA Communications Director Ahmed Hussein Confirmed the latest developments.
‘We have received communication form CAF in regard to the Beach Soccer Finals. FUFA National Teams Department will provide further guidance on the team camped in Njeru. However we also need to know that there is little time left as the tournament in in May this year. We were supposed t host the tournament in 2020 but passed on the opportunity back to CAF to find a replacement. Now we have the right to play at the Finals’
Uganda that started playing beach soccer in 2009, will make its maiden show at the tournament.
From the past-League action: Nkumba University’s Isaac Otto goes for an acrobatic kick during the Uganda Beach Soccer league game at Lido beach Entebbe Nkumba Beat KIU 8-1 With Otto scoring twice.
About Beach Soccer and Futsal in Uganda
16 Facts: Beach Soccer in Uganda
- Beach Soccer was introduced in Uganda in 2009
- National beach Soccer League (Men) started in 2010 at Lido Beach Entebbe
- Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) became a member of FUFA in 2012
- The Uganda Women Beach Soccer League started in 2014
- Uganda has close to 100 Beach soccer clubs (League and non-League teams).
- Uganda Sand Cranes was formed in 2014 and made their maiden international bow in the same year against Zanzibar
- The Chairman of Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) is Deo Mutabazi
- Sand Cranes featured in AFCON Beach Soccer qualifiers- 2015, 2018 and 2020.
- Sand Cranes has featured in the Copa Dar es Salaam tournament since 2017
- Uganda has 4 FIFA Beach Soccer referees
- Uganda has a CAF Beach Soccer Instructor Ali Mwebe
- Uganda has 30 qualified National Coaches
- FIFA Beach Soccer referee Ivan Kintu has officiated at 2 AFCON Beach Finals (2016 and 2018)
- FUFA President is the Chairman of the CAF Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee
- Three Ugandans are on the Africa Beach Soccer Union
- Uganda has on off-shore beach soccer pitch at FUFA Technical Centre Njeru
