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Uganda will face Burundi for a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations after the qualification draw was held in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon.
The two East African neighbours were paired together in the qualifying round, setting up a two-legged battle for a place at the continental finals.
The first leg will be played between 9 and 11 October, with the return leg scheduled for 16 to 18 October. The team that comes out on top on aggregate will book a place at the finals in Senegal.
The 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON will be held in Senegal from 7 to 15 November 2026.
The tournament will carry added significance as it will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The two finalists in Senegal will earn Africa’s places at the global tournament.
Uganda will therefore have plenty at stake in the tie against Burundi. Qualification would not only take the Sand Cranes back to the continental finals but also put them within reach of a place at the World Cup.
The Sand Cranes have already made their mark on the African stage. Uganda made its Beach Soccer AFCON debut in 2021 in Senegal, reaching the semi-finals and finishing fourth overall.
After losing their opening match 5-1 to hosts Senegal, Uganda responded with a 4-3 victory over Tanzania before advancing to the knockout stage and producing a memorable run on their debut.
The following year, Uganda returned to the tournament in Mozambique, qualifying after defeating Comoros 9-5 on aggregate. They finished third in their group after a 6-3 win over Madagascar and defeats to Senegal and Egypt.
The upcoming qualification campaign offers the Sand Cranes another chance to return to the continental stage after their previous appearances.
Senegal will enter the 2026 tournament as the team to beat. The hosts are the five-time defending champions, having won every edition of the Beach Soccer AFCON since 2016.
For Uganda, however, the immediate focus is on Burundi. The Sand Cranes will first need to gain an advantage in the opening leg before the return fixture decides who progresses.
The aggregate winner will head to Senegal in November, where Africa’s best beach soccer nations will battle for continental honours and the two available tickets to the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Uganda will be hoping their previous experience at the AFCON can help them overcome Burundi and earn another place among Africa’s elite in beach soccer.
