The Uganda Cranes have immensely transitioned from close shaves and failures to now taking bigger strides in continental football.
The impact of ending a 39-year wait to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon last year is being seen.
The nation shed off big skin to gain a new shape and command in the African football audience. And Fufa president Moses Magogo will feel the boxes are ticking way faster than imagined.
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Truth, when Uganda failed to make it to the 2015 Afcon edition in Equatorial Guinea, Fufa sat and unleashed the ‘Project Cameroon 2019’ that would aim at earning qualification.
But fruits unexpectedly came early in Gabon. However, the project is as well bound to hit success this weekend should Cranes get the desired result against Cape Verde in the 2019 Qualifiers this weekend.
The Cranes only need a point against the island nation at Namboole on Saturday to confirm a slot at Cameroon 2019 where 24 teams will take part in a new-look showpiece.
“We are focusing on three points though a point is enough for us to qualify,” Cranes’ and Kaizer Chiefs left-back Godfrey Walusimbi said earlier this week. “We have to aim for the highest,” he offered.
Uganda tops Group L with 10 points after winning three and drawing one of four matches and they have scored six unanswered goals.
In fact, only Cranes and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana remain the only teams yet to concede a goal across the continent in the route to Cameroon.
And Uganda’s coach Desabre Sebastien is intent on keeping that statistic intact when the teams head out to face the pavilion on Saturday afternoon.
The Frenchman himself has a chance to stamp a mark onto this team and as well more tape on critics’ lips with a victory rather than the desired point.
Desabre was under immense pressure last month having failed to win any competitive outing out of 11 matches before October.
But he responded with smart football, as he promised, by beating minnows Lesotho 3-0 in Kampala and 2-0 away last month.
Then, Farouk Miya reminded the country of his scoring abilities by scoring three of the five goals with a brace coming in Maseru.
He will be kept in the line-up for Desabre with Edris Lubega and a likely surprise start for Milton Karisa at the front. The latter is a candidate to start because Emmanuel Okwi is out with two yellow cards.
Then Moses Waiswa’s artistry punctuated by his crisp passing is expected in the middle after Denis Iguma and Khalid Aucho have won the ball.
At the back, Nicholas Wadada is priority to patrol the right wing back position, so is Walusimbi on the other end with Murushid Juuko and Hassan Wasswa right in-front goalkeeper captain Denis Onyango.
Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas is banking on six Portuguese-based players but with four points in third place, his side has its work cut out.
Second-placed Tanzania who have five points, visit bottom side Lesotho in Maseru in the other Group L encounter on Sunday.
2019 AFCON QUALIFIERS, GROUP L FIXTURES
Saturday, November 17
Uganda vs. Cape Verde, Namboole
Sunday, November 18
Lesotho vs. Tanzania, Maseru
GROUP L STANDINGS
| Team: |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pts |
| Uganda |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
| Tanzania |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Cape Verde |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Lesotho |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
CRANES PROBABLE XI
Denis Onyango, Godfrey Walusimbi, Murushid Jjuuko, Hassan Wasswa, Nicholas Wadada, Khalid Aucho, Denis Iguma, Faruku Miya, Moses Waiswa, Milton Karisa, Edrisa Lubega
SUBSTITUTES: Jamal Salim (El Meriekh), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), (Onduparaka FC), Isaac Isinde (Kirinya Jinja SS), Timothy Awanyi (KCCA FC), Isaac Muleme (Haras El Hodood), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe),Ibrahim Saddam Juma (KCCA FC), Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers SC), Allan Kateregga (Cape Town City), Allan Kyambadde (KCCA FC), Derrick Nsibambi (Smouha) and Patrick Kaddu (KCCA FC)
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This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune
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