Former Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic is facing an uncertain future with Uganda’s Cranes, after they failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast next year.
Sredojevic, known as Micho, has however told iDiski Times that only Uganga FA (FUFA) can answer if he still has a future with them or not.
Uganda defeated Niger 2-0 away on Tuesday last week in a match played in Marrakech, where Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Magoola was in goals, but that was not enough to qualify as they finished Group F in third place on seven points, one behind Tanzania and nine behind Algeria.
He said if Uganda, who qualified for their first AFCON finals in 38 years in 2017, had lost that final game he would have left as the head coach.
Uganda start their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers away against Guinea in November, but it remains unclear whether Micho will still be in charge.
“I’m still under the contract that I’m owing to Uganda’s federation,” Micho told this publication.
“Analysis is supposed to be done, the decision is supposed to be taken [soon]. It is an issue that is purely in the hands of Uganda Football Federation and I have nothing else to say, except I’m soldering on as the servant of the African football game, Ugandan football.
“It is up to them to decide. If I had not won this last match, I would myself step aside. But bearing in mind that I had won, it is that surprising draw of Tanzania against Algeria that is the one that put us out.
“Whatever federation decides, I will abide by that.”
However, Micho’s task was made harder as Uganda was barred by CAF from playing matches at home, just like Niger and Namibia.
While Uganda and Niger missed out, the Brave Warriors, who were playing their AFCON qualifying matches in South Africa, were the only country to have qualified without playing at home.
“Our fortress, at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala was not ready for hosting matches because of renovation,” explained Micho.
“That factor of player number 12, our supporters, was felt as we missed that one point that was needed.”
Tanzania picked up the all-important point in their final Group F clash in Algeria, but with the hosts already qualified they played a much-changed starting XI.
“Surprise that Algeria did not beat Tanzania at home also played an important role and I will not comment further because I know what has happened behind the scenes,” Micho stated.
“It is very regretful we have not gone all the way to the AFCON finals, but this is a platform in which Uganda will bring in the upcoming competition and the boost of morale is that our minister of sports Mama Janet Museveni stated in her tweet that Uganda is on the way to refurbish the stadium to host matches at home.”
Sredojevic was appointed as Uganda coach in July 2021 and has since won 10 of his 30 matches in charge, losing 11 and drawing nine.
He was also in charge of 98 matches across two spells with Pirates, finishing as runners-up twice with Bucs in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.
