Preview:Uganda vs Mozambique - prediction, team news, lineups

Uganda and Mozambique are back in action in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they go head-to-head at the Namboole Mandela National Stadium on Friday.

The two nations find themselves separated by just three points in the Group G standings and this makes for an exciting matchup as they continue their push for a first appearance in the mundial.

Match preview

Uganda picked up three huge points in their quest for a first-ever appearance in the World Cup back in March when they held on to see out a 1-0 victory over Guinea in Kampala.

With chances at a premium at the Namboole Mandela National Stadium, Vipers SC man Allan Okello came up trumps for the Cranes as his decisive first-half strike saw them snap their run of two consecutive defeats in the qualifiers.

This was a much-needed result for Uganda, who kicked off the campaign with two wins from the opening three games before successive defeats at the hands of Algeria and Mozambique put their qualifying hopes in jeopardy.

Paul Put’s men head into Friday’s tie off the back of a 1-0 loss against Senegal in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Nations Championship on August 23, having finished as Group C winners with seven points from six matches.

Uganda will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways this weekend as they are back on home soil, where they have won four of their most recent five outings across all competitions, scoring five goals and keeping four clean sheets since September 2024.

Mozambique, on the other hand, were on the wrong end of a six-goal thriller in their last World Cup qualifying outing as they fell to a 5-1 defeat versus Algeria in their top-of-the-table clash on March 25.

Geny Catamo got on the scoresheet for Os Mambas, but it was Wolfsburg striker Mohamed El Amine Amoura who grabbed the headlines at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium, where he netted a hat-trick to send Algeria top of the table.

Prior to that, Mozambique were on a run of three consecutive victories in the qualifiers, seeing off Somalia and Uganda on either side of a 1-0 win over Guinea at the Stade El Abdi in June 2024.

Chiquinho Conde’s men have picked up four wins and two of their six matches in Group G to collect 12 points and sit second in the standings, three points off Algeria and three above this weekend’s hosts in fourth place.

Mozambique followed the defeat against Algeria with a group-stage exit from the 2025 COSAFA Cup in June, when they picked up four points from their three games, before losing 2-0 against South Africa in a friendly on June 10.

Uganda World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Uganda form (all competitions):

Mozambique World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Mozambique form (all competitions):

Team News

Uganda have named a 28-man squad for September’s qualifiers against Mozambique and Somalia, with the likes of Okello, Karim Watambala and experienced goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi headlining the team.

Vipers SC man Rogers Torach should join Elvis Bwomono, Elio Capradossi and Aziz Kayondo, who formed the back four in the 1-0 victory over Guinea back in March, while Travis Mutyaba, Kenneth Semakula and Ronald Ssekiganda should team up at the centre of the park once again.

Up top, we expect 25-year-old Okello, who has four goals under his belt for the Cranes, to spearhead the attack, alongside Vardar man Rogers Mato and John Paul Dembe, who has netted four goals for Hacken in the Allsvenskan this season.

As for Mozambique, Conde has called up 25 players to the camp, including the likes of Ernan Siluane, Black Bulls striker Clesio Bauque and 31-year-old Reinildo Mandava, who recently completed a move to Sunderland.

Catamo entered double digits for goals (10) in Os Mambas' colours with his strike against Algeria back in March and the Sporting Lisbon man, who boasts 33 senior caps since his debut in September 2019, should retain his role in the front three this weekend.

Uganda possible starting lineup:

Alionzi; Bwomono, Capradossi, Torach, Kayondo; Mutyaba, Semakula, Ssekiganda; Okello, Mato, Dembe

Mozambique possible starting lineup:

Ernani, B Langa, Reinildo, Chamboco, Chico; Amade, Guima, Pepo; Witi, Ratifo, Catamo

We say: Uganda 1-1 Mozambique

With just three points separating Uganda and Mozambique in Group G, Friday’s clash could prove pivotal in their quest for a place on the global stage in 2026. Uganda have been tough to crack on home soil, with their only home defeat coming versus a star-studded Algeria side, but we predict Conde’s men will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.