Come September 2016, history could be made.
A different script from the previous crestfallen ones awaits Ugandans if the Cranes manage to brush off pressure and win their final game against Comoros in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
Victory over bottom side in Group D on September 3 will hand the nation their appearance in the continent’s elite competition for the first time since 1978.
Against Botswana at Francistown Sports Complex on Saturday, the script went as documented as head coach Micho and his boys revived the country’s hopes of qualifying for AFCON for the first time in nearly four decades.
The game will go down as one of the biggest and imperative away victories in Crane’s history if as expected, Uganda beats Comoros.
Just one more win and the Cranes will bury memories of all those near misses and will also bring an end to a forlorn run of failing to qualify for a major tournament since 1978.
While Uganda lost four points to Burkina Faso as well as their place at the top of the group, it will count less if the final whistle goes in Uganda’s favour on the final day.
Given the Cranes’ direct rivals (Tunisia vs Liberia, Group A), (DRC vs CAR, Group B), (Mali vs Benin, Group C) face off in the final games of the qualifiers in their respective groups, Uganda will have fate lie in her hands.
The fact that points will be dropped in the aforementioned fixtures means Micho’s side is guaranteed to finish atleast as one of the two best overall runners up.
Finishing top of Group D is now out of their hands, however, a draw or loss for Burkina Faso will see the cranes top the group if the three points are secured at Namboole.
The last time Uganda featured in Africa’s greatest showpiece, none of the players in the current team was born.
Such has been the agony in the locals.
The country has since seen misfortunes befall it from poor officiating to clumsy defending, but this could be watered with a win against Comoros.
Seeing the spirit and confidence in the team is overwhelming, surely the Cranes should be able to register a comfortable win against Comoros a team they beat 1-0 away from home courtesy of Tonny Mawejje.
Now that goals can now come from rare sources, this should offload the burden of scoring off the target men.
Luwagga’s first competitive goal for the national team couldn’t have come at the right time.
All signs point to Gabon. From CAF’s arranging of fixtures to two crucial away victories.
Its now or never for the Cranes. The time is now!
