Coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic believes the Uganda Cranes will pose a threat in the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sredojević was speaking after Uganda was placed in Group G with Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia during the draws held on July 13 during the 45th CAF Congress in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Surprisingly, Algeria is yet again in the same group as Uganda after the two faced off in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

“We have been drawn in a tough group where Algeria is favourite. However, we believe in the ongoing qualifiers we have shown that we can play against them. We shall be competitors against them,” he said.

“For Guinea, it is a tough team but I believe we can do well. Mozambique has a Portuguese style of play and is very competitive and is on the verge of qualifying for the AFCON finals.  Botswana, we have faced them before while Somalia has surprised teams before so we have to be set. Practically we have a competitive group,” he added.

Cranes teams (senior and CHAN teams) have continued to struggle under Sredojević’s watch, showing a lack of tactical ability even in matches deemed winnable and played at home.

Comfortable wins have been hard to come by under his tutelage, and his teams have become synonymous with defensive football, leading many to question whether he is still the right man to take the Cranes to the Promised Land.

In theory, Cranes' chances to qualify for the 2026 World Cup which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, were amplified by FIFA’s decision to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48.

What are Uganda’s chances? A group that has heavyweights Algeria and Guinea who compared to Uganda are on separate ends of the FIFA rankings, doesn’t bode well for the Cranes.