It is hard to countenance the fact Cameroon and Nigeria are not among the African countries at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
This is not because they have a patent right to be in the USA, Canada and Mexico. But Africa was represented by 10 nations, and therefore, for Nigeria and Cameroon not to be among them, is hard to believe.
Of course, it is not the first time in recent editions that Cameroon is missing the World Cup. They did not qualify for both the 2006 and in 2018 tournaments. Yet, after being at the one hosted by Qatar in 2022, Cameroon were among the favourites to be in North America.
That said, I cannot help but look back with fondness, when the Uganda Cranes beat Cameroon, before they went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988, before qualifying for the 1990 Fifa World Cup in Italy.
Cameroon did not only begin the tournament with a narrow, but unexpected 1-0 win over the defending champions, Argentina, they went all the way to the quarterfinals. A lot of this World Cup was well watched on Uganda Television from the first game to the last.
Yet, for many, a Ugandan fan, seeing a Cameroon side compete at that stage, created the impression that may be, Uganda could play at such a level. This was mainly because a host of these Cameroon players had been humbled by The Cranes in an earlier qualification tie for the 1988 Afcon.
UGANDA CRANES TROUNCED CAMEROON
Uganda and Cameroon had last played each other in 1969, during the 1970 Afcon qualifiers. So, when they met up in March 1987, in Yaounde, there was so much water that had gone under the bridge.
For coach Barnabas Mwesiga, his charges would be greatly tested. Facing players like goalkeeper Thomas Nkono, defenders Stephen Tataw, Emmanuel Kunde, and Benjamin Massinga; top midfielders like Louis-Paul Nfede, Cyrille Makanaky, brothers Kana Biyick and Omam Biyick, plus of course Roger Milla, would be a daunting task. Indeed, the Uganda Cranes were humbled 5-1.
Omam Biyick (2), Ekeke (1), Roger Millla (1) and Nfede (1) were on the end of an impressive display. Goalkeeper Paul Ssali, I am sure, can remember the four goals he conceded, before his replacement Mande Sekiziyivu conceded the fifth goal.
It was Phillip Omondi who scored Uganda Cranes consolation goal. But when the return leg arrived on April 11, 1987 at Nakivubo Stadium, expectedly, a huge crowd was attracted. For most fans, they want to see the Cameroon side that had been at the 1982 World Cup, as many on this team were at the tournament.
Notably, a couple of Cameroon’s stars did not travel to Uganda, owing to the fact that they had resoundingly beaten Uganda is in the reverse fixture. They felt it was a done deal. But for Mwesiga, he felt that he needed to pick the strongest team possible.
Mwesiga picked Mande Sekiziyivu, John Latigo, Richard Mugalu, Paul Hasule, George Otto, John Mapera, Ronald Vubya, Paul Nkata, Phillip Omondi, Steven Bogere, and Sunday Mokili. Uganda needed a 4-0 win to qualify ahead of Cameroon.
No wonder, The Cranes started brightly, pinning their opponents in their own half, and before half- time. Steven Bogere scored the opener. Immediately after recess, Hasule, who played the game of his life, linked up well with Omondi, who put the ball beyond goalie Antoine Bell.
With the crowd sucked into the game’s momentum, they started asking for more. In turn, Cameroon’s French coach, Claude Le Roy started some time wasting tactics to ease on the pressure.
Unsurprisingly, Le Roy found himself entering the playing field, something that resulted in a send- off for him. But that was not before Mokili had made it 3-0 for Uganda. Wild scenes could be seen at the Nakivubo stadium.
Fans were in total delirium. It was not long before the fans were urging the coach to push Hasule forward, in order to add to Uganda’s impetus going forward. Mwesiga chose to withdraw winger Ronnie Vvubya for defender Charles Katumba, and instead pushed Hasule farther forward.
Hasule had been the mastermind of Cameroon’s slaughter. But immediately after the substitution, Katumba lost possession to Omam Biyick and the lethal striker beat Sekiziyizu in Uganda Cranes goal to score a vital away goal for the visitors.
Mwesiga’s substitution was ridiculed, after the match ended 3-1, and ultimately 6-4 on aggregate, for Cameroon to secure a ticket to the 1988 Afcon in Morocco, which incidentally, they won.
It was after winning the 1988 Afcon that Cameroon went on to defy the odds at Italia 90, following Omam Biyick’s goal in the opening fixture against Argentina. The team went all the way to the quarter-final stage, where they lost 2-3 to England, a dampener to what had been an exciting World Cup for Cameroon, inspired by Roger Milla’s four goals in the tournament.
It was easy to understand why so many Ugandan football fans were rooting for this Cameroon side. They had seen their very own take them to school at Nakivubo a few years earlier!
Mr. Zziwa, you got some facts incorrect. Phillip Omondi hit the post in what would have made it 4-0, and Ronnie Vvubya came close too.
A “big man” in the stands passed a note to the coach, ordering him to introduce Charles Katumba. The coach, went against his wishes and sent Katumba onto the field.
At that point, the game was piping hot, and the stands were on fire! However, Charles Katumba was not properly warmed up for the occasion. In some ways, it was unfair to bring him on, as he was never going to warm up enough for this intensity.
As soon as Katumba got onto the field, the Cameroonians targeted him. Cyrille Makanaky nutmegged the lumbering Charles Katumba and crossed the ball for the Cameroon goal that took the air out of the stadium.
The Cranes pressed on, but it was not the same, and the rest is history.
You never change a winning team!
Well, a couple of major qualifiers later, Adam Ssemugabi missed a penalty against Nigeria at the same venue. Nigeria qualified ahead of Uganda then went on to win the AFCON and qualify for the World Cup.
The Uganda Cranes then went on a long run of missing out by one goal, one point, or one game.
It was all due to poor management, logistics, and planning.
Otherwise, Ugandans are still balling (though none quite at Phillip Omondi’s level). It’s the organization that lets them down
Spot on. This is one of the memorable matches in Uganda’s football history.