{"id":52502,"date":"2023-07-13T21:05:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/micho-algeria-favourites-but-cranes-have-a-chance"},"modified":"2023-07-13T22:54:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T22:54:48","slug":"micho-algeria-favourites-but-cranes-have-a-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/micho-algeria-favourites-but-cranes-have-a-chance","title":{"rendered":"Micho: Algeria favourites, but Cranes have a chance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. <\/strong><\/span>Uganda and Algeria come up against each other again, this time in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification.<\/p>\n

Uganda’s ball was picked from Pot 3 by Nigerian legend Jay Jay Okocha and cast into Group G at the draw that happened in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n

In Group G the Cranes are surrounded by top seed Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.<\/p>\n

Only the top team after 10 home and away matches will qualify directly for the World Cup to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.<\/p>\n

Then the four best number twos in the nine qualification groups will face a playoff, from which the winner will play a six-team intercontinental mini tournament that will produce two more teams to the World Cup finals.<\/p>\n

Tough group<\/b><\/p>\n

Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic, whose team is still hanging on in the Afcon 2023 qualifiers with one match to go, admits it’s a tough World Cup group but is optimistic.<\/p>\n

“We have been drawn in a very tough group where Algeria are favourites,” he admitted to Daily Monitor after the draw.<\/p>\n

“However, we believe in the ongoing (Afcon) we have shown that we can play against them, with just small details making the difference.”<\/p>\n

Algeria beat Uganda 2-0 and 2-1 in home and away fixtures in the ongoing Afcon qualifiers.<\/p>\n

“In the same moment,” added Micho, “we have Guinea, who in 2015 Afcon qualifiers we have beaten at home. Very tough team from West Africa but we believe they are playable.<\/p>\n

“Then Mozambique has a Portuguese style of play, very competitive and qualified for the upcoming Afcon and when you have that in mind, it speaks volumes about them.<\/p>\n

“Then we are having 2017 Afcon qualifiers competitors, Botswana. We have experience having beaten them home and away but it will be a competitive encounter.<\/p>\n

“And finally our Cecafa brothers, Somalia, have surprised and beaten Zimbabwe and shown that when they bring professionals from outside, they are a totally different side.<\/p>\n

“So, practically, we have a very competitive group. We need to make sure that Namboole is available because qualifiers start in November.”<\/p>\n

Micho added: “A crucial aspect has to happen in September when we play against Niger.<\/p>\n

“In case of winning, we shall be on the wings of confidence of qualifying to Afcon. That will bring momentum for World Cup qualifiers.”<\/p>\n

Uganda have never qualified for the World Cup, but with Fifa increasing African slots from five to nine, with a potential of a 10th, the East African country are hoping to squeeze themselves in there.<\/p>\n

The qualifying series for Africa will start in November this year and go on until November 2025.<\/p>\n

Fifa 2026 World Cup Qualifiers <\/b>
\nGroup G<\/b><\/p>\n

Algeria<\/p>\n

Guinea<\/p>\n

Uganda<\/p>\n

Mozambique<\/p>\n

Botswana<\/p>\n

Somalia<\/p>\n

* Nine group winners directly qualify for World Cup in Canada, Mexico and United States<\/p>\n

* Best four group runners-up enter play-offs and one winner qualifies for inter-confederation tournament of six teams, from which two will make the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Matchdays<\/b><\/p>\n

1, 2: Nov 13-21, 2023<\/p>\n

3, 4: June 3-11, 2024<\/p>\n

5, 6: Mar 17-25, 2025<\/p>\n

7, 8: Sept 1-9, 2025<\/p>\n

9, 10: Oct 6-14, 2025<\/p>\n

Play-offs<\/b><\/p>\n

Nov 10-18, 2025<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Uganda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda and Algeria come up against each other again, this time in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification. Uganda’s ball was picked from Pot 3 by Nigerian legend Jay Jay Okocha and cast into Group G at the draw that happened in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday evening. In Group G the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":52501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[233,240,234],"class_list":["post-52502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-uganda","tag-uganda"],"yoast_head":"\nMicho: Algeria favourites, but Cranes have a chance - Uganda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Uganda and Algeria come up against each other again, this time in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification. 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