The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed the international allegiance of two Nigerian-born goalkeepers, Akpan Udoh and Kingdom Osayi, as part of its ongoing effort to bring heritage players into the Uganda Cranes setup.

Udoh's path to the Cranes

Udoh is no stranger to the upper echelons of African youth football. He served as first-choice goalkeeper for the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015, a tournament Nigeria won alongside future stars Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

FUFA confirmed that Udoh qualifies for Uganda through a grandparent from Busia. Because he represented Nigeria in official youth competitions, he must complete a formal one-time change of association through FIFA before pulling on the Cranes jersey. He is currently based in Malta, where he plays for Mosta FC.

Osayi's immediate eligibility

Kingdom Osayi arrives from a different background. Before moving abroad, he featured for several clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), including Heartland, MFM, Doma United, and Enugu Rangers. He subsequently joined Swedish side Assyriska FF.

His qualification for Uganda comes through his maternal grandmother, who was born in Kaberamaido. Crucially, Osayi never received an official cap for Nigeria at any level, meaning he can represent the Cranes immediately without the lengthy FIFA transfer-of-association process that Udoh must navigate.

Bolstering the Cranes ahead of key fixtures

The arrival of both goalkeepers comes as Uganda prepare for upcoming international fixtures and qualification campaigns. FUFA's push to recruit heritage players signals a broader ambition to deepen the squad's options as the Cranes look to compete at the highest level on the continent.