The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has secured the international allegiance of two Nigerian-born goalkeepers, Akpan Udoh and Kingdom Osayi, as part of a broader drive to integrate heritage players into the Uganda Cranes squad. A well-known name in Nigerian youth football, Udoh was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Golden Eaglets side that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015 (alongside stars like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze).
According to FUFA, he qualifies for Uganda through his grandparent from Busia. Currently playing for Maltese club Mosta FC, Udoh requires a formal one-time change of association through FIFA because he previously represented Nigeria in official youth tournaments. Meanwhile, Osay previously featured for several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) sides, including Heartland, MFM, Doma United, and Enugu Rangers, before moving abroad to Swedish side Assyriska FF.
He qualifies for Uganda through his maternal grandmother born in Kaberamaido. Because he never officially capped for Nigeria at any level, he is eligible to represent the Cranes immediately without a lengthy FIFA switch process. The duo joins the Cranes setup as Uganda prepares for upcoming international fixtures and qualifiers.