Back to Afcon in style

Joy unconfined: Cranes players celebrate with coach Sebastien Desabre (left) after the full time whistle at Namboole stadium on Saturday. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE

KAMPALA. As Namboole erupted on the final whistle, Sebastien Desabre turned in a swerve - both fists clenched and teeth gnashed - and landed in a deep embrace with his coaching staff.
One excitedly mad fan after another engaged with stewards in running battles on the pitch as everyone embraced everyone and anyone next to them.
Coaching and playing staff were simply overjoyed, some praying, others hugging; with goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba saluting his stars in gloves and later hoisting Mary Mother of Jesus’ dummy as all broke into different dance styles. This was it.
Uganda ended four decades of Nations Cup absence with the 2017 finals appearance. They left Gabon with a resolve akin to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s in the actor’s role as the title character from the 1984 science fiction film - The Terminator: “We will be back,” they vowed!
Close to two years later, Cranes are back thanks to Patrick Kaddu’s first senior international goal for a 1-0 victory over Cape Verde that ensured Uganda qualified for Cameroon 2019 with a game to spare.

They left Gabon with a resolve akin to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s in the actor’s role as the title character from the 1984 science fiction film - The Terminator: “We will be back,” they vowed!
Close to two years later, the Uganda Cranes are back thanks to Patrick Kaddu’s first senior international goal for a 1-0 victory over Cape Verde at Namboole on Saturday that ensured the East Africans qualified for Cameroon 2019 Nations Cup with a game to spare.
This goal and victory were celebrated in Uganda and across in Tanzania as the Taifa Stars relied on the Cranes good show for them to strengthen their chances of qualifying among the top two teams in Group L.

Royalty, clean sheets
This was a victory so regal it was graced by royalty, with Omukama of Tooro His Majesty Oyo Nyimba Rukidi IV and Buganda Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga giving the players a ‘golden’ handshake before taking their seats to take in the action.
Victory ensured Uganda could end the campaign away to Tanzania next March with a country record high 16 points.
The match watched by about 30,000 fans came with some telling stats. Uganda and captain Dennis Onyango are now the only country to have kept all five clean sheets, scoring seven goals along the way.
It is also the first time in Uganda’s qualifying round-robin history that the Cranes are progressing with a match to spare, and doing it so dominantly at the top of the table.
Before second-placed Tanzania faced Lesotho yesterday, they were eight points behind Uganda. Uganda were also qualifying successively for the first time since ’76 and ’78.

Cape Verde special request
The journey that started with Micho Sredojevic, who took Uganda to Gabon 2017, winning 1-0 away to Cape Verde last year; Geoffrey Sserunkuma scoring the goal had been ended by predecessor Desabre and Kaddu respectively in emphatic fashion.
“I’m very happy we’ve reached our target of qualifying with one match left,” said coach Desabre, “I’m very happy for my boys, their commitment. We are a family. I also want to thank the fans and the federation. It’s been a collective effort.”
Cape Verde coach Rui Águas, who said a little prayer before making a special request to Uganda, congratulated the Cranes and beseeched them to beat the Taifa Stars next year if the islanders are to benefit from any miracle.
“Uganda,” said Rui, “They deserve to win. Congratulations to Uganda. Now we pray Tanzania do not beat Lesotho and Uganda wins there in Tanzania. It’s almost a miracle but we hope it happens.”
The Cranes were a fairly better side in the first half with Kaddu, starting ahead of second half substitute Edrisa Lubega and Derrick Nsibambi, twice beating the visitors defence but Khalid Aucho and Isaac Muleme’s efforts were ineffective.
Cape Verde, who could have scored against the run of play when Garry Mendes Rodrigues beat Murushid Jjuuko and Hassan Wasswa’s defence only for goakleeper Denis Onyango to step in, were much improved after the break.
Actually, Jjuuko had to race back and clear the ball off the line after Cape Verde substitute Heldon Ramos rounded Onyango midway the second half. But Cranes looked more dangerous going forward, with silky Moses Waiswa transitioning well from a hugely impressive Denis Iguma and Aucho to Faruku Miya, Godfrey Walusimbi and Allan Kyambadde.
It was one of those moves that had Walusimbi swing in one of his quality deliveries that Kaddu leaped above the otherwise solid Fernando Varela and Carlos Rodrigues to head in the winner as the clock ticked down.
A roller-coaster of emotions engulfed the 23-year-old as he celebrated his first senior goal for the senior side. He had done it. Uganda had done it. Again!