Uganda Cranes have so far registered mixed results in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers.
The Cranes have amassed just nine points in the group table log and trail runaway leaders Algeria by six points. Only the top team in the group will automatically qualify for the World Cup slated in the USA, Mexico and Canada while the second-placed side will feature in the play-offs.
Still, it would be a miracle to overcome the gruelling play-off schedule that ends with meeting a team from South America for the final slot. Of late, Uganda Cranes are such an unpredictable side, going by the previous games they featured in.
An example of this is their recent 1-3 loss to Mozambique in Cairo, which they overcame two days later to defeat Guinea 1-0 at Namboole. Though technically Uganda still has a chance to make it to the World Cup, going by the way the team is selected and how it plays, it will need the intervention of the biblical angel Gabriel to make it to the Americas.
Algeria stands a big chance to win Group G’s straight slot due to their consistency and serious approach regarding their fixtures. So, it is a no brainer that Uganda should simply use the World Cup qualification as a preparation schedule for Afcon 2025.
ARE THE UGANDA CRANES PROGRESSING?
The selection of the Uganda Cranes team sometimes falls short of expectations. This is one area head coach Paul Put needs to address in time. For instance, the Belgian tactician should decide his first-choice goalkeeper. He should not wait for a disastrous performance like that against Mozambique to react.
He should pick his reliable custodian for better results. The coach should also find a solution for the right full-back position. In all honesty, Elvis Bwomono is not a suitable candidate for that position.
It seems the coach has failed to find the right player there but continues to maintain the St Mirren FC defender there. The summoning of England-based Toby Sibbick in the squad, I thought, was Put’s response to Bwomono’s struggles, but that was not the case; the Wigan Athletic defender remained an unused substitute in the fixture against Guinea.
The coach has also failed to accommodate Timothy Awany in his team, yet the FC Ashdod defender has what it takes to play a role in the Uganda Cranes central defence. What’s more, the Uganda Cranes lack Awany’s aggressiveness and experience in the back, especially at a time when Halid Lwaliwa is out due to injury.
The team’s midfield, where grit and creativity are lacking, is another area where Put needs to improve. Put has been experimenting with several players but is yet to get a solution.
Matters are not helped by the fact that Khalid Aucho’s abilities are waning, while Ronald Sekiganda and Kenneth Semakula are yet to impress consistently. Allan Okello and Travis Mutyaba might solve the problem of creativity if fully trusted. So, Put should also work on his forward players.
The Uganda Cranes striking line is not lethal as it looks on paper. To qualify for Afcon 2025, Uganda only managed to score eight goals during the campaign, compared to the 16 goals scored by eventual group leaders South Africa.
In the 2026 World Cup Africa qualifiers, Uganda Cranes have scored a miserable six goals and conceded seven. So, such statistics cannot help a serious team qualify or do well in any top tournament.
WHAT NEXT?
So, considering the aforementioned challenges, Fufa and the Uganda Cranes technical team should focus on both the Chan and Afcon. Chan is played by locally-based players; so, the Cranes coach should use the local league and some friendly games to shape up the team.
Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania are jointly hosting Chan in August, 2025. The Morocco-hosted Afcon will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. So, the Uganda Cranes coach should use the remaining World Cup qualifier fixtures as experimental matches to prepare the team for the 2025 Afcon.
Uganda’s performance at Afcon is underwhelming. Uganda qualified for the 2017 Gabon-hosted event. However, Uganda failed to get out of the group and scored just one goal in the entire tournament.
Uganda advanced from the group stage in the 2019 tournament in Egypt but got eliminated in the second round. In this event, Uganda could only afford three goals in the four games the team played. Over to you, Mr Put!
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I hope the players and FUFA don’t have this losing mentality.
Champions never give up until the very end. The Uganda Cranes still have a chance. The team’s main problems are fixable.
Let’s focus on the target one game at a time. Or the way things are going one half at a time.
Mr. Zziwa, should wear his journalist hat and find out how key players appear not to be properly assessed for match fitness. For example, goalie Watenga was clearly not ready to play the last two games. Why was he fielded?
As for Uganda’s AFCON record, the author is off the mark. Uganda was up there with Senegal who have since moved on to greater heights while Uganda disbanded their team (well documented) and is rebuilding haphazardly, instead of building on the previous team’s foundation, like Senegal.
We hope FUFA learned their lessons.