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Feature: Uganda dreams of beating 38-year Africa Cup of Nations jinx

Xinhua, September 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Geoffrey Massa wakes up every morning to light exercises before joining the rest of the team in the afternoon for general training.

Under the scorching sun, the young lads sweat profusely but their coach, Serbian born Milutin Sredojevic, shouts 'Harder' reminding them that the team has to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after a 38-year jinx.

The last time Uganda appeared at the continent's biggest football showpiece was in 1978 in Ghana when they lost to the hosts during the final.

Uganda will have another chance to try and solve the puzzle if they can conjure up a positive result against visiting Comoros on Sept. 4.

The game will also have lots of meaning as Uganda are the only team in the east and central African region with a chance of making it to the 2017 Afcon competition in Gabon.

"This is the time we should prove a point and make history," Massa, who is the captain of the team told Xinhua shortly after training.

All that the team needs in this Afcon qualifier is a win in its Group D tie and hope that Group leaders Burkina Faso can draw against Botswana.

A win for Burkina Faso and a win for Uganda could also still see coach Sredojevic's team qualify for being among the best two second placed teams.

"That match looks easy but it is a very difficult game because it will put players and fans under pressure," Tom Lwanga, who was part of the Cranes team that appeared in the 1978 Afcon event, told Xinhua.

The former defender noted that winning against Comoros will need a lot of motivation on and off the pitch.

"Some of us are very eager to see the national team qualify again when we are still alive," said ex-goalkeeper Paul Ssali who guided Uganda to the 1978 Afcon final.

The country's football federation has already earmarked a cash reward of 10,000 U.S. dollars per player if the team qualifies.

"We have put in place a motivating aspect with every member of the squad to get 10,000 dollars if they qualify for the tournament," said Uganda FA Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson.

After two wins against Botswana and another away to Comoros together with a draw against Burkina Faso, Uganda has what it takes to book a ticket to Gabon for the 2017 Afcon.

The likes of Tony Mawejje, Massa, Godfrey Walusimbi, Emmanuel Okwi and goalkeepers Denis Onyango and Robert Odonkara will be expected to use their experience to push the team which has previously missed out narrowly to qualify on two occasions.

With Uganda chasing a place in the 2017 Afcon, the teams that have already qualified include Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. Endit