Cranes can qualify for 2026 World Cup

The Uganda Cranes can still qualify for the 2026 Fifa World if they win all their remaining matches.

So far, The Cranes have played four games from which they have registered six points. They have beaten Somalia and Botswana, but lost to Algeria and Guinea. That has left The Cranes lying second from bottom.

Yet, the potential of 18 points still being there for grabs, makes for an exciting prospect as far as Cranes coach Paul Put is concerned. Therefore, beginning with the double-header this month, away to Mozambique on March 20 and then Guinea at Namboole stadium on March 25, it would be too early to give up now, realistically.

Next year’s World Cup will have at least nine teams from Africa. To be among those, The Cranes must ensure that they top group ‘G’. After this month’s ties, The Cranes will host Mozambique and Somalia in September, before they conclude with two away fixtures in October against Botswana and Algeria.

Only group winners have automatic qualification. At this point, Algeria lead group ‘G’ with nine points, and considering their recent performances on the international scene, they are favourites to top the group. Algeria are the only team in group ‘G’ that have been to the World Cup. Although their last appearance there was in 2014, Algeria have competed at the top of world football four times.

Besides, looking at their current form in the qualifiers, they have managed three wins in four games, a pointer to the form of their team. In addition, in terms of having quality in their ranks, Algeria have players competing in some of the biggest leagues in the world.

That, in many ways, leaves the rest of the competition in their wake. With the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Saidi Benrahma, Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), Algeria, who are 2019 Africa champions possess unmatched pedigree.

On the other hand, Algeria have scored the most goals in the group, which is a total of eight. This is an average of two goals per game. That is undoubtedly a statistic The Cranes would want to match, in order to lift their chances of qualification. Cranes have only managed a goal a game, seeing from their total of four goals in four games.

STILL IN TRANSITION

Without good goalscorers, qualification to the World Cup will always be difficult. And like Put has intermittently said, efficiency in front of goal remains his biggest challenge.

Coaching good finishing in front of goal and the creation of scoring chances takes most of Put’s time during training sessions. Yet, it is not something that can be improved easily unless the players in question do it well at club level.

Going into the double-header, The Cranes have been boosted by the return to fitness of striker Muhammad Shaban. The Libya-based striker is the one natural centre- forward with experience that Put can boast of.

The rest, including Dennis Omedi, Jude Ssemugabi, Steven Mukwala and Rogers Mato, are wing forwards. So, playing them through the middle previously did not suit them. But it left The Cranes without presence in the penalty area to cause problems to defences as needed, in order for other support players to take advantage.

Notably, seeing how The Cranes lost 1-2 to Algeria last year, provided a sense that this team, while it is still in transition can compete. But at the same time, the tie last June pointed out the shortcomings the team ought to work on before qualifying for the World Cup becomes a reality.

Lack of proper ball retention and game management always leaves one exposed. These are attributes a team learns from competing against the best teams over time. Yet, for most of Cranes players today, they have not been mainstays in the team for more than three years.

Essentially, they have not completed a football cycle of four years. Maybe, targeting second place in the group could be realistic for The Cranes. The best four second-placed teams across all the nine groups will go into a playoff from which the winners of the semifinal, will play a final.

The victors from that final, will proceed to the inter-continental playoff against five other teams to make it six teams. These will be seeded depending on their Fifa ranking. The bottom four, will play a semifinal from which the winning two will face-off with the top two seeds for just the one slot. Surely, the journey to USA, Mexico, and Canada, where the 2026 World Cup will be, remains daunting.