It’s meaningless if you don’t play every game at your best

Task ahead. Cranes will have to stop Mohamed Salah. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

Treading a tightrope. Unless Uganda plays at its best tomorrow, or even if results elsewhere conspire to see us through to the next stage as is very likely, we will enter uncharted territory on the morning of July 1 in the wrong frame of mind.

As, especially social media commentators line up to deliver superlatives with which to describe the Cranes Afcon journey so far, there is only one question on my mind: How credible are the details of how and when we can deliver our best AFCON showing in ages?
This does not appear to be a question 100 per cent of social media crusaders are remotely bothered with, as they would prefer the fantasy of unending victory. They have welcomed every result so far with relish, as if they were straight off the exaggerated script of a Wakaliwood blockbuster.

If only wishes were reality. There are sterner challenges to overcome even for one on a Cinderella run – for example I have seen Senegal play and the thought that anyone going anywhere in this tournament will have to first go through them, scares me. So too, the question of the hosts. Egypt is a football mad country and if their players ever needed any extra motivation, they just have to look in the eyes of their fans, some of whom look like they can really self-immolate if they don’t win. Match referees are also known not to worry about details, when it comes to appeasing a host which brings me to the case of making it into the last-16.

When we take on Egypt tomorrow night the matter of who finishes third in most groups will have been determined. But still we must go out and play for a result better than what Zimbabwe is expected to reap from DR Congo. We must, if only to keep the momentum.
I can hear the romantics now – we beat DR Congo, drew with Zimbabwe and Egypt shall be a smooth transition – a favor from a host basking in the fact that they are already qualified.

Yes, Uganda has been the best of the rest in Group A, but Egypt will be looking to top the group, something a loss or draw doesn’t guarantee. And don’t forget those fans whose eyes are pools of murderous intent.
So, as it is, we must deal directly with Egypt. This will require us to recover a level of conviction we lost decades ago. It means we will have to keep the structure we did against DR Congo and close the chasm that grew between Bevis Mugabi and Mukiibi last Wednesday. It means Mike Azira and Khalid Aucho would have to retain that ball better which means Emma Okwi Farouq Miya and Abdul Lumala always offering outlets for quick release. It means Henry Kaddu will not swipe at balls he can head or miss if an opportunity shows up a yard from goal.

In short, unless Uganda plays at its best tomorrow, or even if results elsewhere conspire to see us through to the next stage as is very likely, we will enter uncharted territory on the morning of 1 July in the wrong frame of mind.
And you don’t want to do that going into the business end of the tournament, a place where every error is fatal. [email protected] @MBanturaki