Uganda are now second in Group E of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (Caf) after a narrow loss to Egypt in Alexandria on Tuesday.
Mohamed Salah winner in the sixth minute decided the tie and took the Pharaohs back to the summit of the group with two games remaining – but what do the Cranes need to do to secure qualification to their first ever World Cup?
Uganda still has to play Ghana at home and then finish with an away tie in Congo Brazzaville.
What happens if Uganda win both ties?
It’s simple. Wins from both games take Uganda Cranes to 13 points but may not be enough to guarantee a place in Russia 2018.
Why?
The Cranes fate remains entirely out of their hands as a prayer for Egypt to slip up must also follow decent results.
Maximum points for Egypt from the remaining two games take their tally to 15 points which will be two more points above Uganda.
So for Uganda to qualify, they must accumulate at least three more points than Hector Cuper’s charges out of the six points to fight for.
What about Ghana?
The Black Stars of Ghana have even a harder task if they are deny odds and reach the finals in Russia.
Third on the log with five points, Ghana must win all their remaining games and hope Egypt falters against Congo.
The six points will take their tally to 11 points and the good thing is that both their games are against fellow competitors for a slot.
If Egypt draw against Congo, their points tally will go to 10 and a loss against Ghana in the final game will leave them at that but the Black Stars will be on 11 points (suppose they win all their games).
By then, not even Uganda winning against The Red Devils will stop the Black Stars from reaching the Promised Land.
Kwesi Appiah’s men will automatically be out if Congo loses to Egypt regardless of any result against Uganda in Kampala.
Uganda Remaining Fixtures
- Oct 7: Uganda Vs Ghana
- Nov 6: Congo Vs Uganda
Egypt Remaining Fixtures
- Oct 8: Egypt Vs Congo
- Nov 6: Ghana Vs Egypt
Ghana Remaining Fixtures
- Oct 7: Uganda Vs Ghana
- Nov 6: Ghana Vs Egypt
Tie breakers
In league format, the ranking of teams in each group is based on the following criteria
- Points
- Overall Goal Difference
- Overall goals scored
- Points in matches between tied teams
- Goal difference in matches between tied teams
- Goals scored in matches between tied teams
- Away goals scored in matches between tied teams (if the tie is only between two teams in home-and-away league format)
- Fair play points
- first yellow card: minus 1 point
- indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points
- direct red card: minus 4 points
- yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
- Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee