After drawing record holders Egypt and four time winners Ghana together with Mali in Group D of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda Cranes’ coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević is calling for early decent government supported preps.
And as tough as it might seem, Micho and his side have no choice but to face the challenge in front of them.
Micho tweeted:
People say u can escape anything but divine intervention&destiny not that’s why we play Ghana&Egypt in WC&AFCON finals group.Unbelievable
— MICHOcoach (@michocoach) October 19, 2016
The Serb also said moments after the draw;
Ghana are finalist losing in penalties in last AFCON in Equatorial Guinea 2015 against Ivory Coast. Egypt is very hungry nation, three last AFCON finals they have not been there, winning before three consecutive, Mali in last three AFCONs have been two times third, very competitive tough group
The same Ghana Cranes have already drawn with 0-0 in the opening game of the 2018 Group E World Cup Qualifiers, and will play Egypt twice after the AFCON faceoff.
But for Cranes to even near their last performance at this stage in 1978 that saw them lose 2-0 to Ghana in the finals picking results against the continental giants won’t come on the silver platter, and the Serb knows it too.
When you look at everything, we need to start preparations now with love and support and prayers of all Ugandans and responsible people to prepare our team to be the competitive team, here am thinking preparation and friendly matches where we shall take care of every detail. I believe in football impossible is nothing and possible is everything.
But does Uganda really stand a chance to advance to the last eight, against sides that treat AFCON like their birth right?
I believe in team and players we having, I believe in work we are doing, I believe that Uganda government will come across and help us so that we represent country in best possible way.
Many players have voiced their views about the appearance at the finals, and going to compete for decent positioning has been the talk, Micho compliments that confidence but asserts early preparations will make the Cranes stand out.
Because coming here is half road, for that road to be successful we need t to start preparation now, we deserve to be here but fully to show that we deserve without talking, it’s on the field of play preparation need to start now and we shall do everything possible, we shall not leave stone un-turned in order to be competitor in this 31st edition of the Africa Cup of nations
Uganda’s campaign will open on January 17th in Port Gentil against the Black Stars, then play the Pharaohs on January 21st in the same town before finishing their group round against Mali in Oyem in on 25th
The Groups:
GROUP A: Gabon, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea Bissau
GROUP B: Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe
GROUP C: Cote D’Ivoire, DR Congo, Morocco, Togo
GROUP D: Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda
