Akabwai confident Sand Cranes can beat Burundi

Beach Soccer AFCON Senegal 2026 qualifier

Saturday (Burundi )

First round

Burundi v Uganda

October 18th (Bamboo Gardens, Kasanje)

Second Round

Uganda v Burundi

Uganda Sand Cranes head coach Akabwai Geofrey believes his team is well prepared for their Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Senegal 2026 qualifying tie against Burundi.

Uganda will travel to Burundi on Thursday for the first leg of the second-round tie-on Saturday, with the return leg scheduled for October 18 at Bamboo Gardens, Kasanje.

“All the players are injury free, all the squad is beaming to go. They are ready to represent the country,” Akabwai said.

Akabwai is also confident that the preparations at Bunjako Beach in Buwama, Mpigi District, have equipped the team for the challenge.

“All the boys are set. We believe as coaches, and as a head coach, that the training and tactics we have given them are enough for them to win the first game we are going to have in Burundi,” he added.

Uganda received a bye in the first round and will now begin their qualification campaign in the second round.

The Sand Cranes have faced Burundi before, with the latter winning their last recorded meeting 5-4 at the 2019 Copa Dar es Salaam Beach Soccer Championship in Tanzania.

Uganda have reached the Beach Soccer AFCON finals twice, making their debut in 2021 when they reached the semi-finals before returning for the 2022 edition in Mozambique.

Among the key players in the squad are goalkeeper Rogers Omedwa of Kampala City BSC, midfielder Hassan Luboyera of Kampala City BSC and attacker Steven Nyalimo of Mutoola BSC.

Beach soccer matches are played in three 12-minute periods. If the scores are level after normal time, the teams play three minutes of extra time before a sudden-death penalty shootout if the match remains tied.

Each team has five players on the sand at a time, while unlimited substitutions are allowed.

The Sand Cranes will be seeking an advantage in the away leg before hosting Burundi in Kasanje.

The road to the finals will be demanding, with Senegal hosting the tournament. Senegal have reached every Beach Soccer AFCON final since 2015 and won the last five editions in 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Players

Rogers Omedwa (Kampala City BSC), Samson Kirya (Mutoola BSC), Sharif Opuuli (Kampala City BSC), Hassan Luboyera (Kampala City BSC), Paul Lule (Buganda Royal BSC), Jonathan Kikonogo (SLAU BSC), Peter Roland Mukwata (Mutoola BSC), Charles Okello Batibwe (Ntungasazi), Godfrey Edweu (Kampala City BSC), Joseph Ssendi (Buganda Royal BSC), Wirrock Joe Mbabazi (MUBS BSC), Steven Nyalimo (Mutoola BSC) and Jonah Mugisha (Standard High School Zana).