Exclusive: ‘They Stand a Chance’ - Uganda coach Mutebi Backs Cranes to Snatch Maiden Knockout Spot in 2024 CHAN Tournament

Despite qualifying to six successive African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, Uganda has yet to exude any significant success, failing to achieve their minimum target, which is to hit the coveted knockout stages.

Uganda formed part of the competition in each of the 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and the 2023 editions, yet, it all came to nothing. In the most recent CHAN tournament held in Algeria where Senegal emerged champions, Uganda finished third in Group B with four points, behind the former and Ivory Coast.

At the seventh entreat, as co-hosts along with Tanzania and Kenya, the Pearl of Africa will want to battle to break the jinx. Former national senior team (the Cranes) head coach Mike Mutebi is convinced that they have what it takes to make it past the group stages on home soil.

HOME ADVANTAGE KEY IN BREAKING RECURRING HOODOO

Mutebi, who is arguably the greatest local coach recent history has witnessed, has banked on the advantage that comes along with being the hosts of this coveted tournament.

“The fact that Uganda will be playing at home, in front of their fans, will give the team that edge during the CHAN,” Mutebi began in an exclusive interview with Sportsboom.com. “It's important that the team takes full advantage of the home support in case they're to make it to the knockout stage.

“Playing at home gives Uganda Cranes a chance, when you look at it. With the home support, they'll be expected to play with utmost confidence, so I think they will leave the group stages this time around,” the former Uganda Premier League champion (with KCCA FC) added.

TOP QUALITY COACHING STAFF AND PLAYERS A VITAL COMPONENT 

The Uganda Cranes have made over 13 months under the stewardship of Belgian tactician Paul Put Joseph, who has already secured qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the first time of asking. He has been working with the assistance of veteran Ugandan coach Sam Ssimbwa Bamweyana.

With the current technical team, Mutebi has been persuaded to believe that they can get the best out of the current breed of players, to eventually guide Uganda out of the group stages.

“The coaches are the right people in charge, they're good and I think they can get something tangible out of the current crop of the locally-based players. I think both the coaches and the players are good enough (to eventually break the duck).

“The preparations for the tournament are expected to be spot-on, and this will also be vital. If we add proper preparation to the quality of coaches and players, I don't see any reason why the team doesn't qualify to the knockout rounds,” the 45-year-old added.

AIM TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT - MUTEBI TELLS THE UGANDA CRANES 

While it's a massive ask, Mutebi has argued the team to go big on glory. The versed tactician expects the team to have high targets as the way to go, if they're to perform better than the previous editions.

“This is not a preparatory tournament, this is a big tournament which they have to aim to win. They should just go for the win, and with this, group stages will become secondary. It's possible, I don't see any reason why (some think it's impossible.

“Well, they can use it torch into the AFCON preparations (2025 and 2027), but, as much as AFCON is big, CHAN is also big. They have to play to win, and I'm convinced that we stand a chance.”

Over the years, Uganda has dominated the East and Central region, and are the record CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup champions with 40 titles since its establishment in 1926, but they are yet to translate the same dominion to the continent. The 2024 CHAN on home soil provides the best platform to etch their name with some of the better nations.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the CHAN is a biennial CAF-organized competition for continental football-member associations. It features players that play in their domestic leagues.