Uganda’s national beach soccer team, the Sand Cranes, have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the third time, with the team set to compete at the 2026 edition in Senegal.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) announced the milestone in a post on X, listing the team’s previous appearances at the continental tournament in 2021 and 2022.

The Sand Cranes made their debut at the Beach Soccer AFCON in Senegal in 2021, where they reached the semi-finals. They returned to the competition in 2022 in Mozambique before securing qualification for the 2026 tournament, which will also be hosted by Senegal.

The latest qualification marks another opportunity for Uganda to compete against Africa’s leading beach soccer nations as the team seeks to build on its previous continental experience.

Beach soccer is a variant of football played on sand, with teams competing in shorter, high-intensity matches that demand technical ability, agility and physical endurance.

Uganda’s third qualification reflects the Sand Cranes’ continued presence in the continental competition, although the team will be seeking to improve on its previous performances when the tournament gets underway in Senegal.