RESULTS:
Uganda Cranes 1 Niger 1
Tanzania 0 Algeria 2
Uganda Cranes wasted a golden chance to get their first victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign after drawing with Niger in a match played Wednesday, June 8 at the St Mary’s stadium in Kitende.
Milton Karisa gave Uganda Cranes a dream start in the match they were expected to win by scoring after 43 minutes but Niger struck back through Amadou Sabo for a 1-1 draw.
The result condemns Uganda Cranes to the bottom of Group F, with just one point from two games. The Cranes lost 0-2 to Algeria in the opening game of the qualifiers last weekend.
In his post-match comments, Uganda Cranes’ coach Milutin Micho Sredjovic insisted his team will bounce back when they play Tanzania, the other opponents in Group F, in the double-header fixtures set for September.
“It’s unfortunate we have not won today against Niger but we still have a good chance to make amends against Tanzania in our next two games. The contest now for the second slot in the group is open for the three of us; Tanzania, Niger and Uganda, because Algeria is certainly taking the top slot,” Micho stated.
In the other Group F match played on the same evening, Algeria beat Tanzania 2-0 to affirm their lead with six points from two games. Ramy Bensebaini and Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored the goals for the Algerians in a game played at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in Dar es Salaam.
