Uganda announced it was pulling out of the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals citing financial constrains.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president Moses Magogo on Friday confirmed the latest development saying that the country’s football governing body regrets to withdraw Cranes from the Chan competition for local based players due to lack of funds.
“Like for the U23, we are left with no further option but to withdraw the Uganda Cranes from CHAN finals because Ministry of Finance has not provided the funds as appropriated by Parliament,” wrote Magogo on Twitter.
Uganda’s withdrawal from both the Nations Cup and CHAN is expected to attract a hefty fine from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The sanctions to Uganda will affect the future if we don’t take the hard decision now,” he added; [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Sorry for the players and coaches who qualified the team but it is the moment to face the reality.”[/perfectpullquote]
Uganda qualified for 2023 CHAN finals after eliminating neighbors Tanzania 4-0 on aggregate, and they were set to appear in the tourney for the sixth time in history having appeared at the previous five editions 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
The East African nation was pooled in Group B alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
They were scheduled to kick off their campaign against DR Congo on January 14, take on Senegal in matchday two on January 18 before winding up their group fixtures against Ivory Coast on January 22.
