The Uganda Cranes made a perfect start to their 2026/27 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Ethiopia at Mandela National Stadium on Friday, with goals from Emmanuel Okwi (14'), Milton Karisa (56') and substitute Fahad Bayo (82').
A crowd of 38,000 roared the Cranes to their biggest qualifying margin since 2019, with coach Micho Sredojević rotating six players from the AFCON qualifying squad and still commanding a performance of fluid intensity.
"This team is on a journey," Micho said post-match. "Tonight we showed what we can do when we believe." Uganda tops Group F ahead of second-leg fixtures in Sudan, Morocco and Ethiopia.
