AFCON 2019 Qualifiers
Uganda 0 – 0 Tanzania
Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
Saturday, 08-09-2018
The Uganda Cranes could only manage a point at home to Tanzania in their second game L of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
In the match that ended 0-0 at Namboole, Uganda will go back saddened that they could not find an early goal despite relentless pressure.
The Taifa Stars who were led by RC Genk striker, Mbwana Samatta grow into the game by the minute and will feel they could have won it especially after creating the better chances in the last 45 minutes.
How the action Unfolded:
The home side started brightly as they attacked Tanzania from the on-set and in the second minute, Moses Waiswa was fouled outside the box by Gadiel Micheal Kamagi. Farouk Miya sent in the resulting free-kick but Hassan Wasswa’s knock-down could not be taped home by Emmanuel Okwi as the ball want out for just a corner.
The Tanzanian’s were conceding many free-kicks around their area and on eight minutes, Miya was fouled but he shot straight at the keeper with the subsequent free-kick.
The first corner of the game fell to the away side in 12th minutes. Simon Msuva took charge of it but Banda Hassan Abdi’s header off the delivery was comfortably saved by Onyango.
Seconds later, Okwi was lashing onto Onyango’s long ball but he could only drag his shot wide of the target.
Tanzania conceded another free-kick on 24 minutes and this time they had their goalkeeper Aishi Salum Manula to thank as he fisted away Ochaya’s fierce delivery which was headed for the top right corner.
With frustration mounting on the home team players, Nicholas Wadada was the first to be booked with five minutes to half-time following a foul on Tanzania’s star player and captain Mbwana Samatta.
Uganda had a golden opportunity to take the lead with four minutes of the first half to play but Ochaya who had an option to play in Miya for a tap in, shot wide of the target after he was played in by Waiswa’s inch perfect long pass.
After the break, Tanzania seemed to have uped their game and on 47 minutes, Waiswa lost the ball near Uganda’s area but Kamagi’s long range shot was pushed out for a corner by Onyanho.
As the Cranes struggle to settle down in the second half, Jjuuko was booked for a reckless tackle on Msuva.
Cranes best chance of the second half came on 61 minutes off another Waiswa free-kick which was not deplt with by Tanzania but Emmanuel Okwi could only blaze over from six yards as he tried to pounce onto the lose ball.
Cranes coach Sebastian Desabre was the first to make a change when he took off the ineffective Ochaya for KCCA FC striker, Patrick Kaddu.
With 21 minutes to play, Samatta lined up a free-kick just outside the box and sent it inches wide of the target, much to the relief on thousands of Ugandans in attendance.
A minute later Samatta missed a glorious opportunity to give the away side the lead as he ran through on goal but his effort was expertly saved by Onyango.
On 73 minutes, Miya lashed onto a Khalid Aucho through ball but could not beat Manula from a tight angle.
With time running out, Tanzania created the last meaningful opportunity as Msuva excellently beat Jjuuko and crossed for Thomas Ulimwengu who could only pull his effort wide while under pressure from Onyango.
The result means Uganda moves to four points from two games while the Taifa Stars have two in as many fixtures.
Uganda Cranes starting IX:
Denis Onyango (GK), Nicholas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa, Murushid Jjuuko, Khalid Aucho, Denis Iguma, Moses Waiswa, Joseph Ochaya, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi.
