Uganda Cranes revived their chances of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals with a 1-0 victory over Tanzania Taifa Stars in a Group F qualifying match played Tuesday (March 28) night in Dar es Salaam.
Second-half substitute Rogers Mato (replaced skipper Emmanuel Okwi) scored Cranes’ solitary winner in injury time. It was a sweet revenge for the Cranes who lost 0-1 to Tanzania in Egypt last week.
The victory lifts the Cranes to third position, with four points from four games and keep the dream to qualify for 2023 AFCON Finals alive. Second-placed Tanzania also have four points but boost of better goal difference. Niger are bottom of the group with two points, one of which they got from a 1-1 draw with the Cranes at Kitende last year.
Group leaders, Algeria, have already secured their place at the Finals due in Ivory Coast later this. The Algerians have 12 points from four games.
That means Tanzania and Uganda will fight for the runners-up spot in Group F, with the Cranes remaining games against Algeria (home) and Niger (away) due in June and September respectively.
Tanzania will host Niger in June in Dar es Salaam and wind up the campaign against Algeria in Algiers.