For years, Uganda Cranes have been synonymous with convoluted mathematical equations at this time of qualification campaigns for tournaments.

But right now, the national team is in a most enviable position ahead of Friday’s home clash against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. With 10 points already on board after four games, Cranes can wrap up qualification to Afcon 2025 in Morocco by avoiding defeat at the Mandela National Stadium.

That result would guarantee Uganda’s return to the tournament after a six-year hiatus. Cranes reached Afcon 2017 and 2019 but have failed to return to the biennial showpiece since. Coach Paul Put’s team has been an improvement on Micho’s with the boys playing with a liberty and expression that was devoid previously. That explains why Uganda has averaged nearly two goals in every game in the qualifiers.

The team is creating chances with Travis Mutyaba and, particularly, Allan Okello thriving behind Rogers Mato, Denis Omedi and Mohammed Shaban. Cranes have ditched frugality for a willingness to attack, and the players are thriving. Even substitutes such as Jude Semugabi have found themselves on the scoresheet.

Namboole will be packed to the rafters but Cranes will do well to remember what transpired the last time Bafana Bafana played in Kampala. In October 2004, a Benni McCarthy penalty handed the visitors a 1-0 victory to derail Uganda’s chances of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Back then, South Africa boasted a star-studded line-up that included Quinton Fortune, who was playing for Manchester United. The current team that has been selected by coach Hugo Broos to travel to Kampala is arguably not as gifted as the 2004 team was, but they possess a hunger to return their soccer-mad country to the glory days of the past.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena and his teammate Iqraam Rayners, key figures in the 5-0 annihilation of Congo Brazzaville, are two players capable of turning a game on its head and Uganda will do well to track their movement.

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is part of the Bafana Bafana team but injury has once again ruled out the pacy Al Alhy forward Percy Tau. For Put, the message will be to do the business on Friday and travel to Congo Brazzaville immediately after the match, knowing that the final game will be solely to secure table leadership to grant the Cranes a higher seeding for the draw.

The key for Cranes will be to respect a Bafana Bafana team that is dangerous. Put has preached against complacency in the team and given his wealth of experience in continental football; he would want to head to Congo, needing a result on away soil to secure Uganda’s place in Morocco.

The match will kick off at 4 pm. If Cranes do the business, it will be the third time running that Uganda has booked qualification with results at Namboole. In 2016, a Faruku Miya goal against Comoros ended the country’s 39-year absence from Afcon while in 2018, a Patrick Kaddu header against Cape Verde secured Uganda a return to the 2019 edition that was held in Egypt.