Bring on Qatar 2022

Then a drawn-out league format such as this unmasks Kenya and Rwanda who are ranked by Fifa at 106th and 131st respectively. So yes, I do see us topping the Group.

The World Cup 2022 qualification draws took place in Cairo last Tuesday. Normally, this World Cup thing would pass unnoticed because numerous failed attempts to gate-crush the party have left us collectively exhausted and bred indifference.

However, things have changed lately. Over the last four years our appetite for big competitions has been sharpened, by two straight Afcon qualifications. Barring a disaster, a third straight Afcon is looking likely. Qualifying is our irreducible minimum. So, I do understand the frenetic social media activity following the draw and why some of us look at the World Cup 2022 and say why not?

Admittedly the World Cup is a different animal to Afcon. Only 1 in 10 nations Africa wide, make it and no wonder many Ugandans view the qualification ritual as a hope-drain. But it doesn’t have to be this way any longer, and here is why
We now know that standing between us and Qatar 2022 will be the Group E countries of Mali Kenya and Rwanda. Only group winners make it to a two-legged shoot out that books those 5 places reserved for Africa.

Firstly, do I see Uganda toping Group E? Mali is a purer breed than us, but their 3rd place finishes at Afcon came ages ago, in 2012 and 2013. Plus, our overall head to head reads like a deadlock - played 4, won 1, lost 1, drawn 2, one of which was in our last meeting, a 1-1 draw at Afcon 2017. Besides, World Cup qualification is alien to them too. Then a drawn-out league format such as this unmasks Kenya and Rwanda who are ranked by Fifa at 106th and 131st respectively. So yes, I do see us topping the Group.

And when that happens who knows what the future shall bring? A North African giant? Another surprise group winner like us perhaps? I would prefer the former because a fellow underdog would never drop their guard, while a condescending North African giant could easily be ambushed by the strangeness of our current form.

A final game by the way, would represent the eighth straight qualifier in which we had the matter in our hands till the end. It would also come on the back of two, possibly three straight Afcon finals. This form is yet to get us beyond the last 16 and therefore easy to dismiss. But the potential to shock is in there somewhere. Just ask DR Congo!

That said, we also can’t pay no heed to the value of retaining a strong core made up of Dennis Onyango Murshid Juuko, Khalid Aucho, Faroq Miya and Emmanuel Okwi. This center has held for 8 straight campaigns, and some of them now play in North Africa! Who is to say their experience won’t come in handy in what will most likely be a one-off against Morocco Tunisia or Egypt?
But first we must get to those all meaning play-off games in November 2021. And to be honest I don’t see that it is improbable. So, bring it on.

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@MBanturaki