19 June 2023 | Football

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic has expressed huge amounts of confidence after falling to Algeria 2-1 in the AFCON Qualifiers.

Uganda’s chances to qualify to the 2023 AFCON Cup now hang on a thread after losing to the Desert Foxes at Japoma Stadium in Cameroon on Sunday evening.

However, during the post-match interview, Micho sounded calm and only chose to carry the hope and fight to the last group game against Niger.

“A win against Niger can take us to the AFCON. The game is crucial and so we have to handle it with the much-needed attention,” Micho gladly said.

“I believe we deserved more from the match. However we didn't get it and I believe that we learnt the hardest way, and we have no right to commit these mistakes in times ahead of us,” he continued.

Algeria’s goals were scored by Mohammed Amoura while Uganda’s only strike into the back of the net came through Fahad Bayo after being set up by Richard Basangwa.

Both goals conceded by Uganda were so avoidable since they came from cheap mistakes.

The first came after the custodian Salim Jamil gave away possession through a long blind pass before he later got punished.

Later on in the second stanza, Kayondo failed to deal with pacy Amoura who shrugged him off before Haithem Loucif and Riyad Mahrez combined to set him up.

“When you look at everything, I believe that we are fully aware that as a team with young players, we have no right to make mistakes because of this level of stiff competition. Mistakes are extremely expensive and we’ve learnt it in a hard manner.”

The Cranes qualification will rely on the result between Algeria and Tanzania. After losing to the Desert Foxes, Uganda will be wishing them all the best going forward.

Currently, Uganda is third with four points below Tanzania at seven points while Algeria is on the summit with 15.

2023 AFCON Qualifiers

September 2023

• Niger vs Uganda
• Algeria vs Tanzania

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