AFCON: Bright future for Uganda Cranes

Jan 25, 2017

In a couple of months’ time, Uganda will host back-to-back games against Ghana and Egypt.

PIC: Uganda Cranes' failure to get a result out of Egypt meant the end of the road in Gabon

TOTAL AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS


Tonight at 10pm

Uganda v Mali

Ghana v Egypt

Cranes bowed out of the Total Africa Cup of Nations with no goal, no win or point registered from their first two Group D fixtures at the championship this far.

This is indeed petrifying for a team that marched into the tournament as Team of the Year and with the Africa Player of the Year based in Africa Awards.

The knee-jerk reaction to Cranes' early exit has been ferocious with a significant number calling for changes.

Some feel team captain Geoffrey Massa, Tony Mawejje and Geoffrey Sserunkuuma have done their bit and need to call time on their national careers.

Those that have been critical of Coach Micho Sredojevic, have blamed the Serbian for failing on three of his basic roles when it mattered most. Apart from his failed tactical strategy against Egypt, Micho was castigated for rolling out the wrong players and failing to squeeze the best out of those he started.

But with or without fan pressure, there will be changes in the team.

Already, Massa, Mawejje and Sserunkuuma are considering retirement.

Micho on the other hand is being linked with a move to Ghana where the Black Stars are already looking for candidates to replace Avram Grant.

Grant has decided not to extend his contract that expires soon, opening doors for Micho, who already shares a close relationship with top executives at the Ghanaian Football Association (GFA).

GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi has closely followed and been impressed with the Serbian's remarkable record with the Cranes over the last two years.

Before the 1-0 defeat to Ghana last week, Cranes had registered a win and two draws against the Black Stars -statistics that must have impressed even the most cynical Ghanaian fan.

But that is just that -speculation.

And on Saturday, Micho chose to offer a report card on his team's progress at the championship rather than dwell on his future plans.

"It's very painful to be eliminated after fighting so hard. We returned to the tournament after 39 years and the education has been tough on us," Micho stated.

Indeed, the education has been brutal, but with invaluable lessons picked and key aspects to be proud of.

In the games against Ghana and Egypt, Cranes produced performances high on defensive quality, commitment and organization and the one thing for sure is that if Micho opts to leave, he will leave behind a team capable of championing Cranes return to the Nations Cup in 2019.

The Cranes, whose average age is 24, have grown in leaps and bound. They have significantly reduced the gulf between them and top African sides. The Cranes are well capable of qualifying for the Africa Cup next year largely because of the pool of talent coming through.

Cranes are still in contention in Group E of their 2018 World Cup qualifiers with four points from their first two games behind leaders Egypt (seven), but ahead of Ghana and Congo.

In a couple of months' time, Uganda will host back-to-back games against Ghana and Egypt -two fixtures that Cranes are capable of winning looking back to their displays against the same sides here.

The 2019 Nations Cup qualifiers also start in June and there is a good chance that Cranes will make their second appearance at the finals in Cameroon.

Lesotho, Cape Verde and Tanzania are too lightweight to deny Cranes the 13 points required to guarantee automatic qualification. 

If Micho is still in charge, he will need to freshen his side, and design a well-laid out strategy now that will enable the national team negotiate both the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying campaigns.

The Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and qualifiers to Gabon brought to light exciting prospects that should create competition within the squad.

In goal, Denis Onyango remains the undisputed number one, but the quality of his deputies in Ismail Watenga, Salim Jamal and Robert Odongkara points to how safe Cranes are in the goalkeeping department.

Fullbacks Denis Iguma, Nicholas Wadada (right) and Joseph Ochaya, Godfrey Walusimbi, Shafique Batambuze (left) have all grown in stature. 

In central defence, Murushid Juuko and Isaac Isinde marched into the championship in Gabon as the first choice partnership. But Juuko's suspension allowed Hassan Wasswa into the equation.

Wasswa was brilliant in the games against Ghana and Egypt, just as Geoffrey Kizito. Aucho is still a young man and the pair will continue to command the team's midfield in the event that Mawejje chooses to retire.

In attack, Farouk Miya and Mohammed Shaban are the future of the team, and the pair is likely to start against Mali in Oyem tonight.

 

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