What’s behind Salim Magoola’s Uganda snub?

Richards Bay FC goalkeeper Salim Magoola finds himself once again excluded from the Uganda national team squad, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about the reasons behind his continued omission.

Magoola’s last appearance for the national team was in November 2023 during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where he started in a 2-1 loss against Guinea and remained on the bench for the subsequent match against Somalia. He has not been included in any squads since.

The Cranes played several friendly matches in January and March, as well as World Cup qualifiers in June, but Magoola was consistently left out of the call-ups.

Despite his impressive performances for Richards Bay, he has been consistently overlooked for friendly matches and crucial qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put announced a 28-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Congo, and Magoola’s name was conspicuously absent.

This decision is particularly puzzling, considering Magoola’s experience and superior statistics compared to the selected goalkeepers, Charles Lukwago and Ismail Watenga.

In the last two seasons, Watenga, on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns, started 19 matches and kept five clean sheets. Lukwago, seen as the future, has just joined Motsepe Foundation Championship side Venda Football Club.

In his two seasons in South Africa, the 29-year-old Magoola has made 59 appearances and kept an impressive 22 clean sheets, proving his value to Richards Bay time and again.

COULD PAST CONFRONTATIONS WITH FUFA BE THE REASON FOR MAGOOLA’S EXCLUSION?

Sources close to the situation suggest that Magoola’s past confrontations with the Uganda Football Federation [FUFA] regarding unpaid bonuses might be the underlying reason for his exclusion.

“He has a history of confronting the Uganda Football Federation about the issue of unpaid bonuses. There’s a feeling that that is the reason he’s being omitted. It’s definitely not football reasons,” a source explained.

“It all started when the Cranes came back from the 2019 AFCON; they were promised a million dollars by our president, a promise that remains unfulfilled to this day.

“Additionally, during that same AFCON, the players went on strike over unpaid bonuses for reaching the last 16. One member of parliament targeted Salim Magoola, who responded on Twitter [now X], sparking further controversy. There’s been a lot more back-and-forth since then.

“Yes, he’s talented, but he’s being sidelined because he spoke out on Twitter about the national team’s bonuses.”

When questioned about those allegations and Magoola’s continued omission, FUFA president Moses Magogo deflected responsibility.

“I’m not the coach; I’m only the president of the federation. I think the coach would be in a position to answer that question,” he told FARPost.

As Uganda prepares for crucial AFCON qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Congo, the absence of their arguably best-performing goalkeeper raises concerns about the team’s chances of success. The Cranes will need to be at their best to secure a top-two finish in Group K and qualify for the final tournament in Morocco.
They kick off their campaign against Bafana on September 6, 2024, at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg. They will then face Congo on September 9 at Namboole Stadium.

FULL UGANDA CRANES SQUAD

Goalkeepers
Isima Watenga (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago (Venda FC, South Africa).

Defenders
Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC, Scotland), James Begisa (URA FC, Uganda), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov, Czech Republic), Abdu Aziizi Kayondo (FC Sloven Liberec, Czech Republic), Joseph Ochaya (Al Mokawloon Al Arab SC, Egypt), Bevis Mugabi (Famagusta Anorthosis, Greece), Elio Capradossi (Unattached), Halid Lwaliwa (Al Ain, Saudi Arabia), Arnold Odongo (SC Villa, Uganda), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), Kenneth Semakula (Club Africaine, Tunisia).

Midfielders
Khalid Aucho (Yanga Africans, Tanzania), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin II FC, USA), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC, Uganda), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa, Uganda), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC, Egypt), Saidi Mayanja (KCCA FC, Uganda)

Forwards
Denis Omedi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara FC, Uganda), Joackiam Ojera (Al Mokawloon Al Arab Sc, Uganda), Muhammad Shaban (Al Hilal Benghazi, Libya), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania), Calvin Kabuye (Sandvikens IF, Sweden), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Rogers Mato (FC Brera Strumica, North Macedonia).

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