The draw for the qualifying stage of the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon left Uganda free of a loaded-gun scenario.
It’s a group which shouldn’t trouble onform-Uganda, with two “derby” matches against Tanzania the highlight.
Uganda recently did the double over Nyerere’s boys in the 2016 Rwanda CHAN qualifying matches.
And they won numerous friendlies and CECAFA games against the Tanzanians.
Uganda’s other opponents are Lesotho and Cape Verde – rather steering clear of the ever-supreme West and North African football powerhouses and managed to avoid the southern African lot in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia.
Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic might not still be Uganda coach when the qualifiers start, as his current contract is soon going to be bought out by a big country like South Africa or Nigerian. Micho is a hotcake on the continent after returning the Cranes to Africa’s biggest football showpiece at Afcon 2017 in Gabon for the first time since 1978
But he said: ” Afcon Cameroon 2019 draw with Cape Verde, Tanzania and Lesotho gives confidence that Uganda will qualify for the second consecutive time with team we have.”
“It’s a good draw all round – I think Tanzania will be happy with it and we are happy, too.
” Our fans are delirious at having two fantastic fixtures against Tanzania.
According to African football writer Usher Komugisha, the Afcon 2019 qualification campaign will therefore present them an opportunity of returning to the top but they will face a challenge from the upcoming and relentless Uganda.
Uganda will open their Afcon 2019 qualifying campaign against Cape Verde between June 5-13 this year away in Praia at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde before hosting neighbours Tanzania between March 17-29 next year in Kampala.
The Cranes will then host Lesotho in Kampala before traveling to Maseru for the return fixture between September 3-11 in back-to-back fixtures.
Uganda host Cape Verde between October 8-16 before wrapping up their qualification campaign against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam between November 5-13 next year.
Fellow neighbors Kenya and Ethiopia are drawn in the same group, F alongside West Africans Ghana and Sierra Leone.
But it’s going to be hard going for Rwanda, who are drawn against holders Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea and Central Africa Republic.
