Uganda head coach Paul Put has explained why several players will not be available for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana, with Noble Okello among those missing from the squad.
Put said logistical difficulties surrounding Okello’s recent travel and quarantine experience in Canada influenced the decision not to include the player in the current training camp.
The coach revealed that he had personally discussed the situation with the midfielder, who understood the reasons behind his omission. Uganda are now hoping to have him available for their matches in March next year.
Okello’s absence is one of several selection issues facing Put as he prepares his team for the Botswana encounter. The coach also confirmed that Dieudonne Gaucho Debohi and Souleymane Diaby remain unavailable because their applications to change their sporting nationality have yet to receive approval from FIFA.
Explaining the decision concerning Okello, Put said the player had experienced difficulties during his previous visit and had only recently returned to his club after spending time in quarantine in Canada.
“I had a conversation with him (Okello), and he had encountered some issues during his last visit here. He was quarantined in Canada and only returned to his club a few days ago. Calling him up for this training camp would mean he’d have to go through the same process again. We discussed this with him; he understood the situation, and we hope to have him available for the matches in March of next year,” Put said.
The coach’s explanation suggests that Okello’s omission is linked to the practical difficulties of arranging his participation rather than a decision based on his footballing ability.
Having recently returned to club duties after his quarantine experience, another call-up at this stage would have required him to undergo a similar process. Put and the player therefore agreed that missing the current camp was the more suitable option.
The Uganda coach remains hopeful that the situation will be resolved in time for the team’s fixtures in March next year, when Okello could return to the national team setup.
Meanwhile, the absence of Debohi and Diaby is connected to a different issue involving their international eligibility.
Both players featured for Uganda in friendly matches against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but their involvement in those games has not yet resulted in the completion of the necessary administrative procedures.
Their applications to change their sporting nationality are still awaiting approval from FIFA, meaning they must wait before becoming available for further involvement with the Ugandan national team.
The situation presents another selection challenge for Put as he prepares his squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
While Okello’s situation is primarily related to travel and quarantine arrangements, the cases involving Debohi and Diaby depend on the completion of FIFA’s approval process.
Put’s comments provide clarification on the circumstances surrounding the three players and indicate that their absences are linked to specific logistical and administrative considerations.
For now, Uganda will have to prepare for the Botswana qualifier without the trio, while the coaching staff await developments that could make them available for future international assignments.
Okello’s potential return in March will depend on the circumstances outlined by the coach, while Debohi and Diaby must wait for FIFA to complete the assessment of their nationality applications.
