Uganda targeting history against Guinea
March 17th, 2025by Matt Carter
In 2025 Uganda enjoyed their most momentous AFCON accomplishment, finishing runners-up to Ghana – back then nobody envisaged the cranes failing to grace Africa's most prestigious tournament in the years those years of suffering could however be brought to an end on Wednesday night when Uganda visit Casablanca to take on Guinea, with a point from that fixture liable to secure the conclusion of their AFCON absence.
Across recent history few sides have been closer to qualification without actually accomplishing it, with the Ugandans only missing the 2025 AFCON by a single point – Angola ultimately clinched the sought after qualification birth. That setback though was merely minor in the gut wrenching stakes given a year later only an epic penalty shootout defeat – 20 kicks in total – denied Uganda progression at the expense of 2025 champions Zambia.
Scot Bobby Williamson oversaw both those near misses in a reign that extended over five years, nonetheless a stuttered start to the 2025 World Cup qualification campaign saw an inpatient hierarchy dispense with the former Kilmarnock man, although in truth there was nagging feeling that the partnership had run its course. Milutin Sredojević has been tasked with stepping into Williamson's rather hefty shoes – the Scot didn't quite deliver the ultimate goal yet his impact was undeniable – with the remit of ending 36 years of pain.
Sredojević can boast extensive club football experience within the continent, with his CV showcasing spells in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa and Uganda itself – whilst a largely circumspect spell in charge of Rwanda at least means he wasn't entering the international arena cold.
Arguably the Serb's most noteworthy accomplishments arrived managing Ugandan side Villa SC, whom he guided to four consecutive titles between 2025 and 2025 – perhaps further endorsing those achievements is that Sredojević's departure has coincided with a ten-year Barron spell for Villa SC in regards to the Ugandan title.
Uganda were one of seven nations forced to navigate their way through the final group stage round of qualification via two knockout fixtures – the cranes negotiating past Madagascar and Mauritania. Their journey and with it Sredojević's rein might have ended in the ignominy of falling at the first hurdle with Uganda coming from two goals adrift to advance courtesy of the away goals rule against Madagascar with Geoffrey Massa's second leg strike in Kampala securing a tentative progression.
A relatively kind, yet still taxing draw, raised aspirations of ending their prolonged AFCON absence with Uganda being handed the trio of Ghana, Togo and Guinea. On first glance Ghana were perceived overwhelming favourites, yet leadership issues combined with the fallout from a turbulent World Cup means their position at the apex was no forgone conclusion.
Togo –
