28 March 2023 | Football

• Result: Tanzania 0-1 Uganda

Uganda Cranes have beaten Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Rogers Mato scored the lone goal of the match in the 90th minute of the game after being played through by fellow substitute Farouk Miya. The win puts the Cranes back in the contest for a slot at the Africa Cup of Nations in Group F whose leaders Algeria have already qualified. Uganda is now level on points (4) with Tanzania and there are still two matches to play for both sides as they have to face Niger and Algeria. How the match unfolded The hosts started the Tuesday night tie on the front foot putting the Cranes under early pressure. In the first chance of the game, Simon Msuva left Aziz Kayondo for dead but his shot was dealt with by Jamal Salim Magoola at the near post. There were no other meaningful chances created by either side in the first as the majority of the play was in the middle of the park and the hosts enjoyed a lion's share of the possession. Isma Mugulusi who started in the place of Farouk Miya was lively in the first half but was not given space to operate by Tanzania's defence. In one of the opportunities the attacking midfielder got on the ball, he nearly played Joseph Ochaya through but the winger was flagged for offside. Abdul Suleiman had a shot saved by Jamal but the forward had been waived for offside in one of the chances Taifa Stars got late in the half while Timothy Awany denied Tanzania's captain to have a clear header at goal. During the first half, the match was however delayed by more than 30 minutes as halftime approached because of a floodlights problem at the stadium. The opening 45 minutes would end goalless. The Cranes played the second half with more urgency and got early opportunities. Ochaya saw his header deflected for a corner kick and moments later, he picked out Mugulusi with a cross but the attacking midfielder failed to control the ball and Taifar Stars cleared their lines Micho made changes introducing Rogers Mato and Fahad Bayo for Emmanuel Okwi and Richard Basangwa after the hour mark and later Travis Mutyaba and Farouk Miya. With the match seemingly destined for a goalless draw, Miya threaded a sumptuous through ball that freed Mato who slotted in at the far post past goalkeeper Aisha Manula sparking wild celebrations from Uganda's bench. Uganda Cranes will return to action in June with a home fixture against Algeria. Uganda Cranes XI: Jamal Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo,  Halid Lwaliwa, Timothy Awany, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga (Farouk Miya), Isma Mugulusi (Steven Mukwala), Richard Basangwa (Fahad Bayo), Emmanuel Okwi (C)(Rogers Mato), and Joseph Ochaaya (Travis Mutyaba)

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