Paul Put: Uganda Cranes Showed Levels Above Some European Teams Before Somalia Test

Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put has hailed his team’s performance against Mozambique as they gear up for a clash against Somalia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.

Uganda delivered an emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique, a scoreline that accurately reflected their dominance on the pitch. Rogers Mato netted a brace, with Allan Okello and Elio Capradossi also getting on the scoresheet.

Beyond the goals, Uganda controlled nearly every aspect of the game, creating an impressive number of scoring opportunities throughout the match.

"If I showed you the statistics from today’s game, you would be surprised," Paul Put stated as quoted by Kawowo Sports.

"The performance even betters some of the teams in Europe in terms of the energy levels, ball distribution, and chances created. I agree it is one of the best performances the team has had, and I am proud of the players."

The manager praised his players for executing the game plan perfectly. He thanked the players because they had aimed to start on a strong note, which they did.

Paul Put added that they created chances, and as the goals started coming, they grew in confidence and ultimately secured the result.

Paul Put also revealed that Friday's match was a chance to avenge their 3-1 loss to Mozambique in the reverse fixture.

"I told the players when we lost 3-1 to them that the performance was good, considering we went a man down when Denis Omedi was sent off and also conceded goals due to individual mistakes. So this was an opportunity for revenge," he explained.

Uganda currently sits second in Group G with 12 points and will face Somalia on Monday at Mandela National Stadium.