Uganda strengthened their chances of qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a gritty 1-0 win over South Sudan at Mandela National Stadium last night. The pivotal moment came in the second half when Allan Okello’s precise cross found Jude Ssemugabi, whose header was saved by the keeper, but Bevis Mugabi reacted swiftly to slot the ball home, putting the Cranes in the lead.
Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put acknowledged his team’s challenges before kickoff, saying, “We spent over an hour in traffic, arriving late at the stadium. I don’t know if that affected us in the first 10 minutes, but the boys gave everything. We’ll take the win and build on it in Juba (South Sudan).” Despite the pre-match difficulties, Put praised his team’s determination and emphasized the significance of the victory.
Next up for Uganda is a trip to Juba on Tuesday for the return leg against South Sudan, followed by a crucial home clash against South Africa next month. They will conclude their group-stage campaign with an away match against Congo.
With this latest win, Uganda now tops Group K with seven points, level with South Africa but leading based on the CAF head-to-head rule, thanks to two away goals in their 2-2 draw. Congo remains third with three points, while South Sudan sits at the bottom with zero points. Uganda is now in a commanding position to secure qualification after missing out on the 2021 AFCON.
If Uganda defeats South Sudan on Tuesday, they will reach 10 points, and a win for South Africa over Congo in the same round would also see them reach 10 points. Even if South Sudan and Congo win their remaining matches, neither would be able to surpass Uganda or South Africa’s points tally, which would virtually guarantee both teams a spot in Morocco.
The Uganda Cranes boast a storied history in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), making their debut in 1962 in Ethiopia. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Cranes experienced both triumphs and setbacks, qualifying for several tournaments but often faltering in the group stages. Following a 39-year hiatus from the competition, the Cranes made a triumphant return to AFCON in 2017, reigniting fans’ hopes under coach Micho Sredojevic. Building on this momentum, they secured qualification for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt under Sebastien Desabre, though their journey was halted by Sadio Mane’s Senegal in the round of 16.