The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed a three-year contract extension for Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put, keeping the Belgian tactician at the helm until 2028.
The announcement was made on Thursday morning at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, where FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha and CEO Edgar Watson lauded Put’s contribution to Uganda’s football revival.
“The FUFA Executive Committee made a rare decision to renew Coach Paul Put’s contract a testament to his outstanding performance. The federation beat off strong competition from some of Africa’s top and wealthiest footballing nations that were after him,” said Mugisha.
Put, who replaced Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević in November 2023, has been credited with restoring belief and discipline in the national team setup.
Under his stewardship, the Cranes have already secured qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco and remain hopeful of a World Cup berth.
Since his appointment, the experienced tactician has overseen 23 matches, amassing 13 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses a record that reflects visible progress in Uganda’s game structure, tactical organization, and mentality.
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson emphasized that extending Put’s stay aligns with FUFA’s long-term development strategy.
“We look forward to a positive and successful future where we will continue to achieve more under FUFA’s vision of becoming the number one football nation both on and off the pitch,” Watson remarked.
Following the contract renewal, Put unveiled a 26-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Chad and Morocco. Uganda will play Chad on November 15 before taking on Morocco on November 19, with both matches to be held in Morocco.
A well-traveled coach, Put boasts a résumé that spans Africa, Europe, and Asia. Before joining Uganda, he managed national teams including Gambia, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Guinea, and Congo, and several clubs in Belgium, Algeria, and China.
His most notable achievement came in 2013 when he guided Burkina Faso to the AFCON final, cementing his reputation as one of Africa’s most experienced tacticians.
Despite a career marked by both triumphs and turbulence including a match-fixing scandal in Belgium and a brief suspension in Jordan Put has continuously reinvented himself, earning respect for his resilience and tactical acumen.
