24 March 2023 | Football

Tanzania has beaten Uganda Cranes in the first leg of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Egypt. Simon Msuva scored the all-important goal for the Taifa Stars in the 68th minute of the game to give Tanzania all three points. The opening forty-five minutes of the encounter witnessed few chances from both sides as they approached the match cautiously in search of their first win of the qualifying campaign. At the quarter-hour mark, Halid Lwaliwa fouled Mbwana Samata at the edge of the area but the resultant freekick taken by Novatus Dismas went over the bar. Cranes winger Joseph Ochaya had an attempt at an acute angle cleared while Fahad Bayo went down but his penalty appeal was waived by the referee Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall towards the half-hour mark. Skipper Emmanuel Okwi whipped in a ground cross but it didn't reach the intended target (Ochaya) and the resultant corner kick was fruitless. Aziz Kayondo was booked for a foul just outside the area and Jamal Salim nearly made a mess of the resultant Dismas freekick that hit the post as the first half ended goalless. Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojević made three changes at the start of the second half with Farouk Miya, Bayo, and Siraje Sentamu making way for Steven Sserwadda, Richard Basangwa and Isma Mugulusi. Basangwa made an instant impact upfront forcing into a save as the intensity of the game rose right away. Kenneth Ssemakula made a timely interception but it was followed by bad clearance that Samata nearly took advantage of but his goal-bound shot was blocked by Lwaliwa. Substitute Sserwadda limped off with a knee injury and was replaced by Allan Okello. In the 64th minute, Jamal kept out Msuva's effort with a strong hand to keep the score at 0-0 but the forward would moments later give Tanzania the lead in the 68th minute with a quality finish at the near post. Skipper Okwi made way for Rogers Mato in Uganda's final change of the game in the 70th minute but it was Tanzania that continued to threaten as Dismas had a freekick easily collected by Jamal. In the 85th minute, Mato had an overhead kick saved by goalkeeper Aishi Manula in one of the half chancestheCranes had in the second half as Tanzania held on for the win. The defeat sends Uganda to the bottom of the table with one point from three matches as Tanzania climbs to second with 4 points. The two teams will face off in the return leg next week on Tuesday, 28th March at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Uganda Cranes Line Up: Salim Jamal (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Livingston Mulondo, Khalid Aucho, Siraje Sentamu (Isma Mugulusi), Farouk Miya (Steven Sserwada, Allan Okello), Fahad Bayo (Richard Basangwa), Emma Okwi (Rogers Mato), and Joseph Ochaya

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