Al Hassan Baba: Why Ghanaian-Born Star Could Be Paul Put Midfield Missing Link

Often, stability is the goal ahead of a major tournament but for Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put, the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is a time for revolution.

Fresh from signing a new contract extension that will keep him at the helm until 2028, the 68-year-old Belgian is engineering a quiet overhaul of his engine room, signaling a significant shift in tactical philosophy.

The catalyst for this change is Al Hassan Baba, a 25-year-old midfielder currently plying his trade with Romanian giants FCSB (Steaua Bucharest).

Baba, who is reportedly Ghanaian-born but holds ties to Jinja, has been named in the 28-man squad for crucial upcoming friendlies against Chad and Morocco.

Reports indicate one of Baba’s parents contacted the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) to express the player's desire to represent Uganda. 

Put, impressed by video clips, reportedly seized the opportunity. The coach was drawn to Baba's "athleticism, technical efficiency, and relentless work ethic," seeing a blend of Ghanaian grind and European polish that could inject new life into the team.

The gaffer’s move comes at a time when the Cranes’ midfield has been under scrutiny for its predictability and overreliance on defensive solidity.

" The preferred trio of Kenneth Ssemakula and Khalid Aucho in a double pivot, often complemented by a playmaker, has offered "discipline and shape - but little in terms of forward thrust."

With formidable AFCON group opponents Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria all "boasting dynamic midfields," Put appears convinced that Uganda needs more progressive, attack-minded options to compete.

That is precisely where Baba fits in. Described as a "ball-carrying workhorse," the box-to-box midfielder offers the "stamina, vertical play, and tactical intelligence" that Put believes Uganda desperately needs. He is seen as the progressive option to break lines and transition the team from defense to offense with speed.

The upcoming friendlies will be the proving ground. Put is expected to test a new-look midfield, potentially pairing Baba’s box-to-box energy with Ssemakula’s defensive reading and the creative flexibility of US-based talents like Bobosi Byaruhanga or Allan Oyirwoth. "It’s a bold experiment aimed at unlocking more attacking rhythm without compromising the team’s defensive structure."

Should Baba pass his first test, he will join a growing contingent of diaspora players rejuvenating the Cranes, following in the footsteps of Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, Jordan Obita, and Melvyn Lorenzen. This influx represents a "new, globally rooted identity for Ugandan football under Put’s stewardship."

The friendlies against Chad on Thursday and Morocco on November 18 are more than just preparation; they are a laboratory for Uganda’s new blueprint.

 In Al Hassan Baba, Paul Put may have finally found the "missing link between defensive assurance and creative ambition"—the very heartbeat of a team hoping to make a definitive mark in Morocco.