Nickname: The Cranes
Previous Appearances: 5 (1962, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1978)
Best Finish: Runners-up 1978
Who are they?
In five previous appearances, The Cranes have finished fourth and second one time apiece, and exited at the group stage the other three times. That second place finish came at their last outing in 1978, and they make a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence, thanks largely to the drive and determination of Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic. The 14-time CECAFA champions are an athletic team who, over the past couple of months, have evolved into a good passing side.
Route to Qualification
The Cranes left it to the last day, qualifying for the Nations Cup as one of two best second-placed teams. To be fair, they did finish level on points with Group D winners Burkina Faso, but were edged out of top spot on the head-to-head rule. Of particular importance to note, the Ugandans neither score nor concede too many. In six games enroute to Gabon, they scored six goals and conceded two.
Definition of Success
For a nation that has not participated at the Afcon since a runners-up effort in 1978, qualification for the tournament proper must represent the REAL success. The team is a work in progress, hence the experience of rubbing shoulders amongst the big boys will be worth the while after three group games.
Biggest Rivals
Given their recent clashes – and the success they have enjoyed against the Black Stars – Uganda will be happy to have been drawn against Ghana and will hope to stun their more accomplished opponents.
Top 3 players
Denis Onyango, Goalkeeper, Mamelodi Sundowns
Experienced goalkeeper who has recently seen his first team spot come under threat, but at almost 30 and over a decade in the national team, the shot-stopper should overcome whatever challenges posed by his rivals to stamp his authority and presence in between the sticks in Gabon.
Geofrey Massa, Forward, Baroka FC
The South Africa-based forward features for Premier Soccer League side Baroka, and is a highly experienced player who has played non-stop for his national team since 2005. He will aim to add to his 17 international goals during the Afcon.
Farouk Miya, Forward, Standard Liege
The striker recently moved to Europe, signing permanently with Belgian Jupiler League team Standard Liege, and that experience and exposure should come in handy for the Cranes. At age 21 and with 13 international goals in 24 appearances, he looks to be the future of the Ugandan national football team.
Who brings the African league Flavour?
Joseph Ochaya
The left-back plies his trade at home with Kampala Capital City Authority, and is a regular in the Cranes line-up since his debut in 2012. The youngster could turn heads with some impressive performances at the Nations Cup, which could force European scouts to convince their clubs to bring out their cheque-books to secure his signature.
How far will they go?
In a competitive group that includes Ghana, Egypt and Mali, realistically Uganda stands little or no chance of progressing. The CECAFA champions should make the most of the opportunity by showcasing their talents on Africa’s biggest stage to earn lucrative deals in Europe. The Cranes should be headed back to Kampala after their final group game on 25 January against Mali.
By Colin Udoh/Kwese
@ColinUdoh on Twitter
