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There was a feeling of déjà vu back home when former Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue pulled out Algeria in Uganda’s group G, during the draw held on Thuesdayin Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic feels the Uganda Cranes have been handed a ‘difficult qualification group’ for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Algeria the clear favourites to qualify.
There was a feeling of déjà vu back home when former Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue pulled out Algeria in Uganda’s group G, during the draw held on Thuesdayin Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The North African nation have already defeated the Cranes twice their AFCON qualifier meetings this year, in the games played in Algeirs and Cameroon.
Micho’s side failed to score against the Desert Foxes in their two 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, losing 2-0 in both meetings in Algiers and Cameroon, leaving Uganda’s bid to return to the AFCON strained.
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However, Micho suggests that recent history could be irrelevant by the time the World Cup qualifiers, insisting that they have already learnt from the ‘small details’ that defined those two meetings.
“We have been drawn in a very tough group where Algeria are favourites. However, we have shown in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers, we can play against them,” Micho stressed.
“In both our matches, it is the small details that are making the difference, but this time we shall be very tough competitors against them.”
Uganda was picked from Pot 3 by African legend Jay Jay Okocha with Guinea, Botswana, Mozambique and Somalia making up the rest of Group G.
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Mozambique is the only side that Micho is yet to come up against as Cranes coach, having also faced Guinea during the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.
The 2017 AFCON qualifiers saw him get home and away victories against Botswana, while Somalia are regular opponents from the CECAFA region.
“We also have Guinea, that in 2015 we played and beat them at home and we believe that it is a tough team from West Africa, but we believe it is very playable and Uganda can do well against them,” Micho stated.
“Mozambique is another good competitor, who represents the Portuguese style and have also previously qualified for the AFCON.”
“Obviously, they are a very competitive team, and when you look at them over the last couple of months, they have been impressive and that speaks volumes about their competitiveness,” he continued.
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“We also have Botswana, who we competed against in 2017. We have experience beating them home and away in previous qualifiers, so we have as well shown that we can get the better of them.”
“Our CECAFA brothers Somalia can not be overlooked. When they bring their professionals over then they are not the punching bags we meet in the CECAFA Cup, so we have to be wary of that.”
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For the Cranes, the task ahead is demanding, but not insurmountable, as they seek their maiden qualification for the World Cup.
The winner from each group will secure direct entry into the World Cup. The four best group runners-up will then participate in play-offs to determine who advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
The qualification campaign for the World Cup will commence in November 2023 and run until October 2025, with the inter-confederation playoffs set to be played in November 2025.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the first expansion, and change of any kind, in the competition's format since 1998.
The tournament will take place from a yet to be determined date in June to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in across three North American countries USA, Canada and Mexico.
For the first time the FIFA World Cup will include 48 teams, an expansion by 16 compared with the previous seven tournaments.
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