Uganda and Tanzania Share the Spoils in AFCON Derby Thriller
Uganda and Tanzania shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw during their AFCON 2025 Group C clash on Saturday, December 27. The match, held at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, was a rollercoaster of emotions that featured two penalties, a thumping header, and a late missed opportunity that would have given the Cranes a vital victory.
The first half was a tense affair, with both regional rivals appearing cautious yet physically committed.
Uganda looked the more dangerous side early on, nearly taking the lead within the first fifteen minutes when Rogers Mato’s powerful header rattled the crossbar. Despite the Cranes dominating much of the possession, the Tanzanian defense, led by goalkeeper Zuberi Foba, remained resolute, keeping the scores level heading into the halftime break.
The intensity shifted dramatically in the second period. Near the hour mark, Tanzania found the breakthrough they had been searching for.
A goal-bound strike from Alphonce Msanga struck the arm of Uganda’s Baba Alhassan, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. Simon Msuva, a veteran of three AFCON tournaments, stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick in the 59th minute, silencing the Ugandan supporters and putting the “Taifa Stars” on the path toward what would have been their first-ever win in an AFCON final.
Refusing to concede defeat, Uganda’s head coach Paul Put turned to his bench, introducing fresh legs to revitalize the attack. The gamble paid off in the 80th minute when substitute Denis Omedi delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Fellow substitute Uche Ikpeazu, the St Johnstone forward, rose above the Tanzanian defenders to fire a clinical diving header into the back of the net, leveling the score and setting up a frantic finale.
The drama reached its peak in stoppage time. Uganda was awarded a golden opportunity to steal all three points when James Bogere was fouled in the box by Haji Mnoga. However, the pressure proved too much for Allan Okello, who sent the resulting penalty sailing over the crossbar.
The final whistle blew shortly after, leaving both teams with a single point and their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages hanging by a thread. Both nations must now secure victories in their final group matches—Uganda against Nigeria and Tanzania against Tunisia—to keep their continental dreams alive.
