The upcoming friendly matches against Tanzania and Madagascar will play a crucial role in helping the national team’s technical staff evaluate players and prepare for future competitions, according to FUFA Executive Committee member and Uganda Cranes Leader of Delegation Rogers Mulindwa.
The Cranes are currently in Marrakech, Morocco, where they are scheduled to face Tanzania on 5 June before taking on Madagascar three days later during the June 2026 FIFA international window.
Speaking after the team’s arrival in Morocco, Mulindwa said the camp and the two fixtures would provide an important opportunity for coaches to assess player development, test tactical plans and strengthen the squad ahead of a demanding period later in the year.
He confirmed that the travelling party had reached Morocco without any difficulties and that most of the players had already joined the training camp.
“The delegation that set off from Entebbe, we safely landed in Doha and later on in Casablanca before taking that journey to Marrakech. Almost 75 percent of the players are here, while a few others will be coming in. By tomorrow we shall have everybody in camp,” he said.
Uganda’s preparations come as the national team looks to maximise the benefits of the FIFA international window, with the technical staff expected to use the matches to closely examine individual performances and collective progress.
Mulindwa stressed that the fixtures should not be viewed as routine friendlies, insisting they serve a significant purpose in the team’s development programme.
“We do not take friendly matches lightly. The matches are meant to help the coaches test tactics, evaluate player performance and build team chemistry,” Mulindwa said.
The official explained that assembling players for international camps remains one of the best ways to assess their progress, particularly as many members of the squad spend much of the year competing in different environments and rarely have extended periods together.
“Most of these players do not stay together for long. When you want to assess their capacities, how they have improved and identify areas that need attention, you must participate in such international friendlies,” he noted.
Mulindwa also pointed to FUFA’s commitment to ensuring the national team takes advantage of international breaks whenever possible, describing the friendlies as part of a wider strategy to aid player and team development.
“That is why as FUFA we always ensure we utilise these opportunities. We have consistently participated in these international friendly breaks organised under FUFA,” he added.
Attention is already beginning to shift towards a packed programme later in the year, and Mulindwa believes the experience gained in Morocco will provide valuable information for the coaching staff.
“By the time we leave Marrakech we shall have played our two matches and the technical team will have picked important lessons,” he said.
He added that the forthcoming fixtures would help determine how best to utilise members of the squad in future assignments.
“These matches are part of the build-up to a busy season in September, October and November where we shall be involved in a number of games. We are looking at all these players and seeing how best we can utilise them at the right time,” he added.
With matches against Tanzania and Madagascar approaching, Uganda’s coaching staff will be hoping the Morocco camp provides the insight needed to strengthen the Cranes ahead of an increasingly busy international calendar.
