Uganda Cranes Receive Major Hoima City Stadium Update Ahead of Libya Clash

State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang has confirmed that Hoima City Stadium is on the verge of full compliance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, paving the way for the Uganda Cranes to host their 2027 AFCON qualifier against Libya at the new venue.

Speaking on NBS Sport, Ogwang revealed that a preliminary CAF assessment has given the stadium a 99% approval rating, addressing nearly all previous concerns about its readiness for international fixtures.

"Ninety-nine percent has been cleared for it to meet the CAF standard," Ogwang stated, expressing confidence in the facility's progress.

The minister announced that the upcoming qualifier, scheduled for next month, will serve as the stadium's inaugural international match.

"I want to be honest, I don't come here to give wrong information," he affirmed. "A game between the Uganda Cranes and Libya is going to take place in the new Hoima City Stadium. The first AFCON qualifier for 2027 is going to take place there."

This development marks a significant turnaround after CAF flagged the stadium in March for failing to meet the requirements for a Category Four international venue.

Despite being structurally complete, inspectors had identified several issues, including the positioning of technical benches, crowd control, and inadequate separation of access routes for VIPs, media and general spectators.

Other concerns included limited workspace for journalists, necessary adjustments to the dressing rooms and a lack of dedicated parking for team buses.

The latest assessment indicates that these issues have been largely resolved, with remaining minor work expected to be completed soon.

Constructed by Turkish firm Summa International Construction Company Inc., Hoima City Stadium was built at an estimated cost of $129 million to $131 million (approximately Shs484 billion), financed by Uganda’s Petroleum Fund.

Government officials have emphasised that Summa is responsible for rectifying any defects under the project's liability period, ensuring no additional cost to the taxpayer.

The Uganda Cranes will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in September in Group H, alongside Tunisia and Botswana.

As a co-host of the tournament with Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda has already secured automatic qualification. However, the team will participate in the qualifiers as competitive preparation for the finals.

In addition to national team fixtures, Ogwang confirmed that local club Kitara FC will be permitted to use Hoima City Stadium for its continental matches.

"We can't afford to let one of our continental clubs play outside of Uganda when there's a facility in Hoima," he said.

The minister cautioned that all clubs using the stadium, including Kitara, must strictly adhere to CAF regulations, especially concerning crowd management and stadium capacity.

He noted that a previous disagreement with the club stemmed from plans to admit supporters beyond the venue's permitted limit.

The upcoming qualifier against Libya will be a crucial test of Hoima City Stadium's capacity to host top-tier international football and a chance for Uganda to showcase its newest sporting facility.