The Cranes take on Burkina Faso on Saturday, March 26 away and host the return leg three days later at Namboole. Uganda last reached the finals in 1978.
- FUFA the body that runs the game has grown strong both in character and experience. 39 years in the wilderness of continental football has given us a wealth of experience to turn obstacles into opportunity with magnificent results. The federation’s new found strength exudes belief, character and never say die attitude which has trickled down through the players of the national team.
- The recent form on the road by the uganda cranes has been impressive. It has gone places where African power houses crumbled and got positive results. Accra Ghana 1-1 where Ghana had to pass through the eye of the needle, a win in Lagos Nigeria and a win away to Comoros, Moroni. These all point to national team resilience and maturity.
- Rankings- the recent ranking by FIFA/CAF show the progress of Ugandan football overall. Remarkable strides are being made behind the curtains of soccer and they are beginning to bear fruit. The cranes being way above their Burkinabe counterparts give us a good chance to have a result away from home.
- Glorious start- The cranes have never enjoyed a more perfect start from a tournament than a six points out of two games record. This should give us a calmness of table leaders and the ruthlessness of an assassin. Being at the top of the table is not by chance but by hard work, talent and experience of recurrent failure. The Burkinabe will learn the hard way.
- Best 18: In ages- Uganda cranes has never been found wanting in talent. These eighteen players present the coaches with a selection headache, a good one. The teams that usually qualify with, consistency for tournaments such as these are with a vast selection of professional players. Only one of the players that travel to Burkina Faso will be locally based. That is a huge statement! No wonder we have maximum points.
- Good form- our form from the recent games speaks volumes about the team. From both the junior and senior teams minus tournaments its 8 wins two draws zero losses! Stopping a team that is on such a strong run will take massive effort from Burkina Faso. I wonder if they possess the mettle to bring down the mighty cranes.
- Onyango- singling out one person in a team sport to be the difference has always been so hard for me. Dennis Onyango’s form for both club and country has been magnificent. He must be the only link to why his club and country are leaders of their respective tables. If Onyango gives us his best game in Burkina Faso, my money will be on Uganda qualifying as table leaders.
- Silence the critics- the cranes have not had it the easy way most of the time. Some people will argue that sometimes it was rightly so, but many times they have had it unfairly rough from the Ssekamates and Kabuletas of Uganda. They have questioned their character and will to win; sometimes even their allowances were doubted. Their performances have been sarcastically equated to $100 bonuses. This is what their performances equated too not the $2000 that they actually and truly receive. Cranes this time round is here to bury the hatchet with the media doubters and they are here to shut them up with outstanding performances on the pitch.
9.Loyality- the cranes want to pay back to the their fans who have stuck with them through thick and thin, tears and laughter, sweat and blood with a qualification to the AFCON. It is not only a good thing but it’s also a worthy present. Dear fans turn up in big numbers in Namboole Tuesday 29th for the grand prize.
- We need this qualification more! Of the two teams, the cranes need this qualification more. We are hungrier and thirstier for the AFCON. We have been in the darkness of continental football for much too long and this is our time!
By Apollo Ahimbishibwe
