Having only appointed Sebastien Desabre 16 days before the start of the African Nations Championship, Uganda were always going to be up against it in Morocco.
A tricky group including an experienced Zambia side, Ivory Coast and underdogs Namibia also represented a tough opening hurdle, despite the undisputed talent within this home-based Cranes side.
Ultimately, Uganda will regret failing to impose themselves in their opening match - a 3-1 defeat by Chopolopolo in Marrekech - which now leaves them with an uphill struggle to escape the group.
Even in defeat - a loss that was all but confirmed by a moment of madness by goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan as he dropped the ball over his goalline - there were ample reminders of this team's quality.
Despite the newness of the Desabre regime, and an enduring unfamiliarity with the Frenchman's tactics, Uganda actually bossed the opening stages.
Zambia needed a tactical reshuffle in the heart of their midfield to combat the creativity and control of Sadam Juma early on, and even after falling behind to Lazarus Kambole's fine opener, Uganda's heads didn't drop.
They levelled only two minutes after falling behind - through Derrick Nsibambi's magnificent scissors kick - and must not be too disheartened by defeat.
Certainly, Desabre will have learned a great deal about his team - and they of their coach - while the paucity of offensive talent displayed by the Ivory Coast and Namibia in their opener ought to give them encouragement.
As well as Juma, who admittedly faded after largely running the first half, Milton Karisa demonstrated the scintillating talent that's set him apart as one of the tournament's players to watch.
Starting on the right, but largely given license to drift inside, he demonstrated intelligence in possession and an eye for the spectacular. The wideman loved using a combination of pace and technical class to beat his man, and his assist for Nsibambi's equaliser didn't deserve to be overshadowed by the finish.
Also encouraging about Karisa's display was his interaction with right-back Nicholas Wadada. The duo's relationship - honed at club side Vipers SC - was a constant threat for Zambia. It's hard to see how Namibia will keep the duo at bay for 90 minutes.
Particularly effectively, Wadada sought to drive directly - with the ball at feet - towards the edge of the Zambian box, taking the opposition left-back out of the game and creating space which the likes of Nsibambi and Muzamiru Mutyaba ought to have exploited more effectively.
Beyond his goal, Nsibambi struggled to use his physical qualities to great effect, and it will be interesting to see whether Desabre is tempted to use the threat of wonderkid Muhammad Shaban from the off against the Brave Warriors on Thursday.
Another interesting conundrum for the coach is how to use Nelson Senkatuka.
The Bright Stars forward offers pace, agility and excellent upper-body strength - evident when he scored in the friendly against Guinea before the tournament - but his versatility can occasionally cost him.
In Marrakech, Desabre opted to introduce the 20-year-old on the right, and while the game was already lost at this point, the centre-forward is more more effective when employed through the middle.
Elsewhere, Taddeo Lwanga and Bernard Muwanga served reminders of the importance of energy, power and leadership in the base of the midfield and the heart of the defence.
The former did a fine job shielding the defence, and there have been few players this tournament who have put in more of a shift than the tireless Lwanga.
Muwanga led with authority, and clearly relished matching up with the Zambian forwards in a physical battle, although he may well rue his part in both of the Copper Bullets' first two goals.
Left-back Isaac Muleme is another who could arguably have done more defensively to limit the Zambians' threat.
However, with the exception perhaps of Morocco's Abdeljalil Jbira and Fackson Kapumbu of Zambia, there haven't been too many more exciting attacking displays by a left-back at this tournament.
It will be intriguing to see how the width and dynamism offered by Muleme and his opposite man Wadada can help Uganda break down the Namibian defence in their next fixture, a game they now cannot afford to lose.