After a 38-year absence, Uganda finally qualified for the Africa cup of Nations, Africa’s premier football showpiece on September 4, last year. The Uganda Cranes edged out Comoros through a Farouk Miya goal at the Mandela National Stadium to qualify as the best group runners-up, behind Burkina Faso in Group D. Although the performance in Gabon wasn’t as exciting (the Cranes managed only a point from their 3 matches), qualification was in itself a seismic moment for many Ugandans. The country had for long relished its past footballing glory dating back to the 70s, and had in the recent past had to put up with several near-misses in successive campaigns.
