Johannesburg - Despite Uganda’s early exit from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, former defender and Kaizer Chiefs legend David Obua feels his countrymen showed tremendous fighting spirit and applauded Milutin Sredojevic’s charges.
The Cranes were left rooted at the bottom of Group D with a single point but the 32-year-old believes that they were competing against the top three sides - Ghana, Egypt and Mali - who were inundated with overseas players.
According to Obua, his former team-mates gained a valuable experience from the 31st edition of the continental showpiece and it will be a morale booster heading into the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Uganda will compete against Egypt and Ghana once again in a battle to clinch a spot in the global spectacle next year.
“We have played three tough games. They came out of a group of teams with plenty of European-based players,” Obua said on SuperSport TV.
“We had few players in Europe, only one in Standard Liege (Belgium) and one in the Portuguese league. But against all odds, the players gave a good fight.
“They started anxiously at the beginning but got better as time went on. For me I applauded them and I believe that everyone back home will do the same.
“We can take our experience learnt in Gabon to the World Cup qualification. The irony is that we have both Egypt and Ghana in the same group.
“So you never know what can happen, we can qualify for the World Cup if God wishes.”