By 
The Uganda Men’s Football team, Cranes has been held to yet again another goalless draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This is after they drew nil-nil with Mali in their group E game played at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Monday.
This is a second for Uganda in as many games after they opened with a goalless stalemate in Kenya last Thursday.
The first attempt at goal fell to the Uganda Cranes as Issac Muleme’s wonderful freekick from the right was parried away for a cornerkick by Mali goalkeeper Bosso Ibrahim in the 8th minute.
Mali fashioned their first attempt at goal with 29 minutes on the clock following a Murushid Juuko handball just outside the box but Adama Traore’s freekick hit the defensive wall and went out for a cornerkick.
From the resulting cornerkick, Diadie Samassekou was found unmarked in the box but headed agnozingly above the crossbar.
Mali continued to attack the Cranes backline and few minutes afterwards, Ugandn defender Juuko was cautioned for a reckless foul on Ibrahim Kone.
Just before the break, Mali had a chance to take the lead but winger Moussa Doumbia shot his effort few metres above the upright.
The game went into the break with Mali have dominated most of the proceedings in the opening half.
Mali started the second half the same way they ended the first, having the ball in their offensive half and came close again in the 56th minute as Skipper Hamari Traore’s cross almost got into the back of net with Watenga left star-studded in Cranes goal.
Mali coutinued to dominate proceedings and we’re unlucky not to be ahead in the 62nd minute as substitute Adama Traore’s freekick was just a few meters off the mark with Watenga well-beaten.
Uganda was then reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute after Juuko was sent off by center referee Ismail Mahmood for second bookable offence on Kone.
After the reduction, Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic made a double change, beinging on defenders, Mustafa Kizza and Innocent Wafula for Emmanuel Okwi and Joseph Ochaya respectively.
Kizza nearly paid off for his introduction but his freekick in the 75th minute was parried away for a cornerkick by Bosso.
Mali tried their level best to get the winner in the last 10 minutes but all their attacks yielded no fruits.
With the draw, Uganda remain third in group E with two points garnered in two games. They are level on points with Kenya and two points below top-placed Mali.
