Uganda Cranes Youngster Ready for Huge Tunisia Test in AFCON 2027 Qualifier

Ugandan teenage prodigy James Bogere has expressed his delight and readiness as he prepares to earn his third senior cap for the Uganda Cranes in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tunisia at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès.

The 18-year-old Aarhus GF forward linked up with Paul Put's squad in Tunis, jumping straight into national team preparations alongside iconic figures of Ugandan football.

Despite facing a formidable North African powerhouse on away soil, Bogere remains confident in the group's collective preparation and tactical readiness.

Reflecting on his arrival in the North African capital and integration into the full squad, Bogere noted how seamless the transition into international camp has been ahead of Thursday's high-stakes encounter.

"It has been good. I came in yesterday evening, and it was my first practice. So, yeah, it is really nice getting to play with the boys, and, you know, it is really nice being at the national team and getting ready for the game on Thursday," James Bogere said.

Having previously featured against Tunisia during youth continental tournaments, the Danish-based attacker acknowledged the quality possessed by the Carthage Eagles while asserting that Uganda enters the match fully prepared to compete.

"Yeah, of course, it is a good side [Tunisia]. I played them last year in AFCON, and it is a good team. But we are ready; we are ready because, you know, it is a competition. So, we are ready to give our best for the country," he added.

For Bogere, who burst onto the global scene by leading Uganda to historic performances at youth level, sharing the national team setup alongside legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango and forward Denis Omedi represents a surreal milestone in his budding career

"It has been a dream, as you can imagine, being at home, watching Uganda play and seeing Onyango in goal, Omedi scoring goals and at this moment, sharing the pitch with them at the same time,” he added.

“It is a dream coming true, and just loving the moment and enjoying it, but at the same time, being competitive because we need to give our best, as I said here. Everyone in Uganda, we are ready to give our best to the nation, and just behind us, we'll give our best, yeah."

While Uganda has already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 showpiece as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the qualifying fixtures serve as crucial competitive testing grounds for coach Paul Put to hone his squad dynamics and establish tactical depth against top-tier opposition across the continent.