• HT: Tanzania 0-0 Uganda

It’s goalless between Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Uganda Cranes in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier being played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania started the game on the front foot putting the Cranes under pressure. Simon Msuva left Aziz Kayondo for dead but his shot was collected by Jamal at the near post.

After that, no meaningful chances were been created by either side with the majority of the play in the middle of the park and the hosts enjoying a lion’s share of the possession.

Isma Mugulusi was lively but has not been given space to operate. He nearly played Joseph Ochaya through but the winger was flagged for offside.

Abdul Suleiman had a shot saved by Jamal but the forward was 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.

The match was however delayed by more than 30 minutes as halftime approached because of a floodlights problem at the stadium.

Uganda Cranes XI: Jamal Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo,  Halid Lwaliwa, Timothy Awany, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Isma Mugulusi, Richard Basangwa, Emmanuel Okwi (C) and Joseph Ochaaya

• Tanzania Vs Uganda – 8:00pm

Uganda Cranes coach Milutin Sredojević has made changes to the team that will start the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

Four changes have been made to the team that started at Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt last Friday.

Timothy Awany joins Halid Lwaliwa in central defence, Bobosi Byaruhanga and Isma Mugulusi join assistant captain Khalid Aucho in the midfield while Richard Basangwa starts up front with Emmanuel Okwi and Joseph Ochaya.

Livingstone Mulondo, Siraje Sentamu, Farouk Miya and Fahad Bayo who started in Egypt start on the bench.

The Cranes nothing short of victory to stay in the hunt for the remaining qualification place in Group F.

Uganda Cranes XI: Jamal Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo,  Halid Lwaliwa, Timothy Awany, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Isma Mugulusi, Richard Basangwa, Emmanuel Okwi (C) and Joseph Ochaaya.

Uganda Cranes will be keen on registering some kind of progress in the reverse 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers fixture against Tanzania on Tuesday at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

The team has been able to pick one point from the opening three games in Group F and thus the remaining games are all crucial if qualification is to be achieved.

Coach Milutin Sredojevic is fully aware of the requirements and believes they have to put the loss to Tanzania behind them and look forward to improving.

“One detail can take you to hell and the other can take you to heaven and that is what happened in the last match. We now have the chance for redemption in this game and we are coming here to fight for maximum points,” Micho told the Federation website,

“I have full trust in the players and they know how crucial this game is and are hoping for positive results.”

Gavin Kizito and Steven Ssrwadda have been ruled out of the game due to injuries. Uganda is fourth in Group F with one point. The same group has Algeria and Niger.

Uganda Cranes’ start to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers has been undesirable as they have been able to pick just one point from the opening three games in Group F.

The two losses and a draw in the games played thus mean that the remaining games are all crucial if qualification is to be achieved.

Uganda is bottom of the pile with 1 point while their opponents are 3 points ahead and second in the group.

The fixture against Tanzania on Tuesday night at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium is thus make-or-break for the Cranes.

Head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is aware of what is at stake and believes his charges have put the loss to Taifar Stars last Friday behind them and are ready to put the qualification campaign back on track.

“One detail can take you to hell and the other can take you to heaven and that is what happened in the last match,” Micho said in the pre-match presser.

“We now have a chance for redemption in this game and we are coming here to fight for maximum points.

“I have full trust in the players and they know how crucial this game is and are hoping for positive results,” he added.

Meanwhile, team captain Emmanuel Okwi has no love lost for the Tanzanian people with many Taifa Stars close friends.

“I have always had love from the people of Tanzania. Many of the players have been my teammates or opponents when I played here.

“The friendship will always stay but during the game, we will all be fighting to make our countries proud,” he said.

It should be noted that defender Gavin Kizito and attacking midfielder Steven Ssrwadda are ruled out of the game due to injuries.

Wakiso Giants midfielder Ibrahim Kasule’s proposed move to New York Red Bulls is reportedly back on track.

Kasule is reported to have left the country on Sunday and is expected to seal a deal with New York Red Bulls II who are coached by former Uganda Cranes captain Ibrahim Ssekagya.

If the move materialises, Kasule will be the latest Ugandan to join the side after midfielder Steven Sserwadda and former Wakiso Giants teammate Frank Ssebuufu.

Earlier, the creative midfielder was reported to have moved to Turkish side Ankara Keciorengucu.

The Turkish move came as a surprise after it was initially reported that Kasule and Ssebuufu (who was unveiled last week) were heading to New York Red Bulls after agreeing on terms with Wakiso Giants.

Uganda Cranes and Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi feels he is getting sharper by the day as he further gets in more hard work following his return from injury.

The 27-year-old wasn’t selected for the latest Uganda squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after four months on the sidelines.

However, he came back earlier this month with a late one-minute cameo against Hearts and last Saturday managed the final 37 minutes of the Steelmen’s 4-2 defeat to Rangers, in which he scored to make it 2-2 just six minutes after coming on.

Mugabi said: “It’s been a long time coming since the injury so I’m just trying to get as many minutes as possible.

“I know the team is doing well at the moment so I’ve had to bide my time to get as many chances as possible.

“There is good competition in the defence, especially as there are a lot of players not playing at the moment who could easily slot in and play.

“I’ve been training hard for the past four weeks and I’m getting sharper every day and week, so I’m just waiting patiently to get my opportunity to play [regularly] again.

“It was difficult at first, dealing with injury itself and then the recovery process to get back to full fitness and back in the squad.

Mugabi is playing under his fourth manager in four years at Fir Park after having been signed by Stephen Robinson in September 2019.

Kampala Queens have clinched the 2022-23 FUFA Women Super League title.

The Queens of Soccer beat UCU Lady Cardinals 2-0 on Sunday to claim their first ever title.

Kampala Queens went into the clash at the IUIU Grounds in Kabojja needing just a point to be crowned champions.

Skipper Shamirah Nalujja was on target and defender Bridget Nabisaalu connected in her own net as Kampala Queens sailed to victory.

The hosts had chances with Resty Nanziri, Hasifah Nassuna and Margaret Kunihira all coming close while the visitors barely troubled Kampala Queens back line.

The opener arrived in the 22nd minute when Nabisaalu miscued Kinihira’s corner kick delivery into her own net.

Later, Nalugya made a good run to finish from close range off a good pass from Nassuna.

The win takes Kampala Queens to 40 points from 14 games. The side is still unbeaten with four games to the end of the season.

Busoga United came from a goal down to beat URA Football Club. 2-1 in a Uganda Premier League match played at the Mehta Stadium, Lugazi on Saturday.

The tax collectors took the lead through their forward Living Kabon in the first half but a brace from Bashamu Mugwa earned Busoga all three points that moved them to the 12th position on the table with 18 pointt.

It was URA’s first game on their return to their former home Mehta Stadium.

The Tax Collectors who have had a decent second got off to a dream start when Kabon put them ahead in the 24th minute with a lob over goalkeeper John Okurut.

However, the visitors drew level at the stroke of halftime through Mugwa as they started their comeback.

After the break, it was URA that applied early pressure with Nicholas Kabonge and goal scorer Kabon coming close.

However, it was Busoga United who celebrated again after Mugwa scored the second at the hour mark and the strike turned out the game-winner.

Despite the introduction of Viane Ssekajugo and Ibrahim Dada, URA couldn’t find a breakthrough against a well-organized Busoga United backline that held on until the final whistle.

It was the seventh for Busoga United which moves them to 18 points after 18 games in the season.

Starting XIs

URA FC: Hannington Ssebwalunyo (GK), Hudu Mulikyi, Justin Opiro, Nicholas Kabonge, Alfred Leku, Living Kabon, Derrick Ndahiro, Patrick Mbowa, Joshua Lubwama, Saidi Kyeyune, Eric Ssenjobe

Busoga United: John Okurut (GK), Laban Tibita, Charles S Mulanda, Isaac Isinde, Peter Onzima , Herbert Onyango, Thomas Ochungo, Fredrick Ngalo, Isaac Daka Mweru, Bashamu Mugwa, Benon Tahomera

MTN Uganda in partnership with FUFA screened Uganda Cranes match against Tanzania at the Old Taxi Park. The Cranes lost 1-0.

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