Match-day four of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers was concluded on Tuesday with up to four teams confirming their places in Cameroon with two match-days to spare.
African heavyweights Senegal and defending champions Algeria were the first teams to qualify followed by Mali and Tunisia to join hosts Cameroon in the finals that were pushed to 2022 following the Covid-19 disruption.
The Uganda Cranes placed in Group B had also hoped to join that party after 1-0 home victory over South Sudan had left them with one foot into a third straight finals appearance.
But they were pegged back on matchday four as their northern neighbours returned the favour with a 1-0 win of their own that left the Cranes one point behind leaders Burkina Faso who played out a goalless draw with Malawi.
Cranes coach Johnathan Mckinstry has now taken the blame following to two consecutive lackluster performances that were eventually punished through a penalty scored by Ugandan born striker Tito Okello for South Sudan’s triumph.
"I think over the two games we failed to execute and put up the performance we needed," admitted the Northern Irishman, McKinstry.
"For me and the coaching staff, we need to make reflections and we need to do better. We have to be better.
"(We are) hugely disappointed. The players went out and tried to execute according to game plan.
"I take full responsibility as the head coach. We will go back and reflect on the game," Mckinstry responded.
He made six changes to the team that started the home victory but was unable to get a reaction from youngsters Allan Okello and Karim Watambala as well as Disan Galiwango and Dvid Owori who all made their debuts in the game.
The results left the Cranes on seven points, one behind leaders Burkina Faso while Malawi are on four points and South Sudan a further point behind as they returned to contention ahead of the next round of fixtures in March next year.
The top two teams qualify from each of the 12 groups except in Group F where only one of Mozambique, Cape Verde and Rwanda will join hosts Cameroon who got an automatic slot to the 24-team competition.
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The writer is a Freelance Sports Reporter based in Kampala, Uganda. Follow him on Twitter (@Emanzi20), Facebook (Ndyamuhaki J. Emanzi) and Instagram (@emanzi20).