The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
The Cranes will face a hostile crowd in Juba, with South Sudan eager to get revenge after their narrow defeat
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | Uganda Cranes is gearing up for a crucial return leg against South Sudan’s Bright Stars in Juba on October 15, with hopes of securing another win to boost its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign.
After a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Kampala on Friday, Uganda Cranes will be looking to complete the double-header with another solid performance.
The Cranes claimed its second win in the qualifiers at the Mandela National Stadium, thanks to a decisive goal from defender Bevis Mugabi early in the second half. His header from a rebound following Jude Ssemugabi’s attempt was enough to send the home fans into a frenzy and secure all three points.
The win takes Uganda to seven points, putting it to the level with South Africa in the group standings. However, the Cranes know the job is far from done, with the away leg in Juba presenting its own challenges. Uganda’s Rogers Mato emphasized the team’s focus, stating before the Kampala game that they were targeting maximum points both at home and away. The victory at home puts them in a good position, but the real test awaits in Juba.
“We’re focused on the return leg,” Mato said confidently. “We know what’s at stake, and we’re not just looking for a win here in Kampala, but also in Juba. We want to finish this double-header with all six points.”
Slow start, strong finish
The first half of the match saw both teams struggling to break the deadlock. Despite a packed stadium, the Cranes were unable to create many clear-cut chances. Rogers Mato came close a few times, but his shots were off-target, and the teams went into the break at 0-0.
Uganda Cranes Coach, Paul Put, made crucial tactical adjustments during halftime, bringing on Allan Okello and Bobosi Byaruhanga to replace Travis Mutyaba and Ronald Sekiganda. These changes paid off. The substitutions injected energy into the Cranes’ attack, with Okello taking up the playmaker role and Ssemugabi moving to center-forward, while Denis Omedi shifted to the right wing.
The breakthrough came just one minute into the second half, when Mugabi capitalized on a saved header by Ssemugabi, nodding the ball into the net to give Uganda the lead.
Despite having control of the game, Uganda Cranes missed several opportunities to extend their advantage. Ssemugabi had another chance in the 58th minute, but his shot was blocked by South Sudan’s goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Omedi also came close, but his attempt from the right wing was saved, keeping the score at 1-0 until the final whistle.
South Sudan’s coach praised his players’ fighting spirit despite the defeat, acknowledging that they gave everything they had.
Put, however, expressed mixed feelings about his team’s performance, especially in the first half. “I was disappointed with the first 45 minutes. I can’t tell if it was because we came late to the pitch,” he said.
“But the second half was much better. There was more drive and commitment. Now, we have to focus on the return leg, which will be a tough one. I’ve already told the players that the field might be smaller than what we’re used to, and we need to be prepared.”
Challenges in Juba
The Cranes will face a hostile crowd in Juba, with South Sudan eager to get revenge after their narrow defeat. Uganda will need to keep their composure and focus on securing another three points to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.
While Uganda celebrated their win, other teams across Africa were also in action, with dramatic results in the qualifiers.
In Group C, Botswana secured a vital 1-0 away victory against Cape Verde, with an early goal from Tumisang Orebonye. Botswana’s win lifted them to three points, putting them level with Cape Verde, while Egypt leads the group with six points. Despite Cape Verde’s dominance in possession, they were unable to find the back of the net, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
DR Congo’s perfect run continues
Meanwhile, DR Congo continued their perfect run in Group H with a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania. An own goal from Clement Mzize in the 53rd minute was enough to give Congo the win and move them to nine points from three matches. Tanzania remains in second place with four points but will need a positive result in their next game to stay in contention.
Tanzania had several chances to equalize, with Mbwana Samatta and Feisal Salum testing DR Congo’s defense, but Congo stood firm. Arthur Masuaku nearly doubled Congo’s lead with a free-kick that hit the bar late in the game.
Ghana’s frustration
In Group F, Ghana’s struggles continued as they were held to a goalless draw by Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Ghana could not find a breakthrough and now sit third in their group with just two points from three matches. Sudan’s point lifts them to second, while Angola tops the group with six points. Angola will face Niger in the next round, hoping to extend their lead at the top.
Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and Iñaki Williams came closest to scoring, but Sudan’s goalkeeper Mohamed Al Mustafa made several crucial saves to deny the Black Stars a much-needed win.
Eyes on the return leg
As Uganda prepares for their crucial match in Juba, the team will be looking to build on their positive second-half performance in Kampala. With the stakes high and qualification on the line, the Cranes know they need another strong display to secure victory and continue their AFCON journey.
The fans will be hoping that Mugabi and company can replicate their heroics in the return leg and bring home another win.
