Congratulatory messages continue to pour in for the Uganda Cranes after the team finally qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978.
Uganda’s last appearance at the Nations Cup ended in a runners-up spot when they lost to Ghana in the final.
However, the heart break veterans yesterday beat Comoros 1-0 to secure their place at next year’s finals in Gabon as one of the two best group runners-up.
In her congratulatory message sent in a tweet, the First Lady Janet Museveni who is also the Education and Sports Minister says this win is an answer from God to a National prayer.
While the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, also in a tweet, has thanked the Cranes for doing Uganda proud, saying Ugandans are all united in the victory.
Here in Kampala, celebrations have continued until morning in most of the city bars.
The celebrations stretched beyond the borders and in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the Convention Centre displayed Uganda’s beautiful colors in support of the Cranes’ win.
The Cranes Group D rivals Burkina Faso also qualified with a late 2-1 win over Botswana to finish top of the table.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia also qualified as winners of their groups and Togo went through as the second best group runners-up on goal difference.
The historic win means Uganda will join sixteen teams that will compete at next year’s tournament, which runs from 14 January to 5 February.
Story By Catherine Ageno