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AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Uganda shares points with Niger in Kitende

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Uganda Cranes awful start in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers continued on Wednesday evening after they failed to beat Niger in a game played at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

The Cranes only managed to draw 1-all with Niger despite having dominated most of the proceedings.

Milton Karisa put Uganda ahead before the break but were left stunned in the second half by Niger’s star player Mahamadou Amadou Sabo who levelled matters with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The Uganda Cranes dominated the game from onset as they imposed continuous attacks onto the Niger backline in order to break the game’s deadlock.

But they had to wait until the 43rd minute to get their goal courtesy of Milton Karisa who first stole the ball from his marker and then scored from the tightest of angles, dinking the ball over Niger keeper Kassaly Daouda and in off the post.

But before that, Uganda had a couple of brilliant chances to go ahead earlier on but they failed to capitalize. Farouk Miya missed a one on one attempt against Daouda while Fahad Bayo headed wide after being set up in good areas on multiple occasions.

Niger provided less threat going forward in the opening half as the game went into the break with the hosts leading 1-0.

The second half started in a relatively slow fashion with Niger falling back while Uganda maintained most of their possession in the middle.

Uganda’s first attempt at goal in the second half fell to substitute Allan Kyambbade, but Daouda did well to parry away Kyambbade’s well-hit shot at goal.

With arguably their first realistic attempt at goal, Niger levelled matters in the 70th minute courtesy of Mahamadou Amadou Sabo beautiful curler from outside of the box that easily beat off Charles Lukwago in the Cranes goal.

After conceding that goal, Cranes coach Milutin Sredojevic made a double swap bringing on Allan Okello and Mohammad Shaban for Fahad Bayo and Milton Karisa respectively, with hope that pair would inspire his team regain the lead. 

Both sides tried to get the winner late on but that wasn’t possible as both sides just held on 

With the points shared at Kitende, Uganda remain bottom of group F with just a point garnered in two games. They lost their qualifiers opener to Algeria 2-0 on Saturday evening.

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