World Cup 2026: Cranes Cling to Faint Hopes Ahead of Crucial Botswana Clash
FRANCISTOWN, Botswana — October 9
Uganda’s national football team, The Cranes, face Botswana in a must-win FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier tomorrow, with slim hopes of reaching the global showpiece still alive — albeit hanging by a thread.
The fixture, taking place in Francistown, comes on a symbolic day for Uganda, as the country marks its 63rd Independence anniversary. A win would offer timely national pride, but more importantly, it’s essential to keep Uganda’s mathematical qualification chances alive.
Currently second in Group G with 15 points, The Cranes trail group leaders Algeria by four points. Algeria, who face bottom-placed Somalia on the same day, are widely expected to win — a result that would seal their qualification with 22 points, making them unreachable for Uganda.
Even if Uganda secure back-to-back wins against Botswana and Algeria in their final two games, their World Cup fate no longer lies in their own hands.
Second-Place Route Also Narrowing
Africa’s qualification format grants automatic World Cup spots to only the nine group winners. However, the best four second-placed teams will advance to a second qualification round, keeping hope alive for teams like Uganda.
Unfortunately, as it stands, Uganda sit seventh out of nine in the second-place rankings — behind Gabon (19 pts), Madagascar (16), DR Congo (16), Burkina Faso (15), Cameroon (15), and Namibia (15). Only the top four of these will advance.
To break into that elite group, Uganda must win both remaining matches and hope for favourable results elsewhere — particularly stumbles from Madagascar, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon.
Botswana: Familiar Foes
Uganda can take heart from their solid record against Botswana. The Cranes have beaten them in all three previous meetings — most recently a 1-0 win in June 2024 at Namboole. They also won 2-1 in Francistown back in 2016, with goals from Kizito Luwaga and Khalid Aucho.
Botswana have been far from dominant at home, losing to both Algeria (1-3) and Mozambique (2-3), and only picking up wins over Somalia and Guinea.
Paul Put’s men will hope history repeats itself as they look to extend their winning streak and maintain momentum following dominant victories over Mozambique (4-0) and Somalia (2-0) last month.
Tough Test in Algiers
While confidence may be high heading into the Botswana tie, Uganda’s final group game — away to Algeria on October 14 — poses a formidable challenge. Uganda haven’t taken a point in Algiers since 1996, when they drew 1-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier thanks to a strike from the late Majid Musisi.
More recently, Algeria came from behind to beat Uganda 2-1 in June 2024 at Namboole, underlining their dominance in the head-to-head.
Mozambique, the Silent Threat
Mozambique, also on 15 points, are breathing down Uganda’s neck in third place. They face Guinea and Somalia — both beatable sides — and are strong contenders to claim one of the best runner-up spots. They beat both in reverse fixtures, suggesting they could very well win again and overtake Uganda in the standings.
Stars Must Step Up
If The Cranes are to pull off a miracle, key players like Allan Okello, Rogers Mato, and Steven Mukwala will need to rise to the occasion. Uganda’s fate in this campaign has entered a razor-thin margin, where every goal and point could count.
With history, hope, and hard math on the line — Uganda Cranes must deliver nothing short of perfection.
