Uganda skipper Denis Onyango has tipped US-based former international Ibrahim Sekagya to take over as the Cranes' permanent head coach.
The East Africans are currently without a permanent coach following the departure of Milutin Sredojevic, with Moses Basena overseeing the side in an interim capacity for their World Cup qualifying double-header against Egypt.
Onyango excelled in both fixtures against the Pharaohs, as Uganda took three points from their illustrious opponents, but now sees Sekagya, who was also on the bench for the qualifiers, as an ideal long-term solution in the dugout.
"The players all believe in him and look at him like an icon," the reigning Africa-based African Player of the Year told KweséESPN. "He is very respectful of the players and has very good training methods.
"The time has come when we need to trust in our own to handle the national team in the future," Onyango added. "There is no better person than Sekagya who captained the team and is now gaining coaching experience."
36-year-old Sekagya played in Argentina, Austria and the United States during a nomadic career, and has impressed since taking over as assistant coach at New York Red Bulls II in 2015.
"When given the chance, I believe that Sekagya can take the national team places," Onyango concluded. "We all know Sekagya was a star for the national team and we all take him very seriously when he speaks."
One of Sekagya's former international teammates, wideman David Obua, has also backed the former Red Bull Salzburg man's credentials as a potential Cranes head coach.
"I have faith that Ibra Sekagya can handle the national team because he knows what it means to play for Uganda and he's a steady guy who is also getting the coaching badges and experience now," Obua told KweséESPN.
Despite a 1-0 victory over Egypt in Namboole, the Cranes remain outsiders to reach Russia after falling to a defeat by the same scoreline in Alexandria.
With two games to play, they remain two points off the Pharaohs in Group E, with Ghana - in third on five points - set to visit the Mandela National Stadium on October 7.