The Uganda Cranes were still hanging onto the possibility of making it into the playoffs of the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers, when they faced Algeria away in their last game of the campaign last night.
Before kick-off, Algeria had already qualified as group winners, which meant that their clash with Uganda was purely academic. However, this still left questions on how these qualifiers, which started back in November 2023 will be looked back on?
The Cranes needed to beat Algeria by at least three clear goals to make it to the playoffs. While this seemed like a bridge too far, Cranes’ Belgian coach, Paul Put was pleased by how competitive his side were throughout.
With four qualifiers coming in two months, these games have helped ready The Cranes for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, 2026.
The Cranes have been able to size themselves up against quality competition, which implies that they will not be fazed by the prospect of facing Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania in group ‘C’.
Before facing Algeria last night, Cranes had scored 14 goals in nine World Cup qualification games. Even though there is still work to do, Put is impressed by how well his forwards have been performing.
Dennis Omedi, Jude Ssemugabi, Muhammad Shaban, Steven Mukwala, Rogers Mato and Allan Okello have all provided attacking threat, but also options, which should make the team less predictable and reliant on specific individuals to get goals.
Yet, Put also looks back at the fact that they kept four successive clean sheets, the seven goals they conceded in nine outings proved costly. For example, the errors committed in their opener, which they lost 1-2 to Guinea, the 1-3 loss to Mozambique, and letting a 1-0 halftime lead against Algeria slip, only to lose 1-2, denied Cranes valuable points.
Those three points have proved to be the difference between qualifying for the World Cup and not. Such is Put’s regret!