President Yoweri Museveni has wished the national football team the Uganda Cranes the best of luck and enjoined them to win the Africa Cup of Nations in honour of the country.

In a message released by presidential press team,Museveni bid good tindings to the national team that will be representing the country after 39 years spent in football wilderness.

“As you embark on this momentous occasion of representing our country,I encourage you to focus and keep your eye on the prize,” the statement reads.

The president said that the Cranes presence in the continental showpiece is well deserved and urged the team to see the mundial “as a call to national duty.”

“ Your presence at the AFCON continental tournament is well deserved.You represent a country and people on the move.Good luck and all the best.”

Even though the statement stayed clear of the traditional clear monetary promise to the team as reward for their performance in Gabon, the president was not forthright on the matter but chose to leave it.

Having held their training session under Multin Micho outside in Tunisia and Dubai the team arrived late last week in Gabon where they have held training ready for group match.

Cranes will play against Ghana in a Group D opener on 17th January in their first battle of Africa most coveted soccer trophy.