Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ is still hopeful that the team will qualify for the 2017 Africa cup of nations to be held in Gabon.
Uganda kicked off the campaign with a perfect start winning the first two games against Botswana and Comoros to yield six points and lead group D but were unfortunate to pick only one out of a possible six in a double encounter against Burkina Faso.
Dejected Cranes players at the final whistle (photos by Kenneth Kazibwe)
“I am really disappointed with the draw because we had seven different plans to approach the game. I cannot accuse any player for the open chances that were not converted but can work on improvement,” Micho said after the disheartening goalless draw at Namboole on Tuesday night.
Fans paid tribute to fallen Cranes goal keeper Abel Dhaira during the match
He added, “Our group (D) is very wide open with two matches to be played by each team. We are planning for this two matches to qualify on time and in that case hope to have very good preparations before.”
Uganda fell 1-0 to Burkina Faso on Saturday 26th at the Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou through Jonathan Pitroipa’s penalty in the 60th minute. The two played out goalless on Tuesday 29th night in Namboole.
Cranes Starting Line up
The result allows the west Africans to take charge of group D overlapping Uganda though the two share same points(7) and goal difference(+2). The head-to-head rule applies.
The group winners qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations directly while the runners-up also qualify if they are one of the two runners-up with the best records.