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COACH’S VERDICT: PAUL PUT PRAISES CRANES PROGRESS DESPITE HEARTBREAKING 1-1 TANZANIA DRAW

Coach Paul Put defends Allan Okello’s penalty miss, comparing him to Messi. Uganda Cranes now face a must-win game vs Nigeria.

Coach’s Verdict: Paul Put Praises Cranes Progress Despite Heartbreaking 1-1 Tanzania Draw
Paul Put’s Five Changes Transformed the Cranes’ Midfield Shape

Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put is backing Allan Okello after his penalty miss against Tanzania in the AFCON 2025 qualifier. The game could have been a win.

After the tough 1-1 draw against Tanzania on Saturday, Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put is standing by Allan Okello, who missed a late penalty.

Despite the disappointing end to the rain-soaked match at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, the coach said the team is making progress and staying positive. They were denied a win, which was tough.

We made chances, played well, and were in control, Put said. Things didn't go well; that’s how it is. We could have won. It’s hard, but I've told the guys not to get down on themselves.

Put made five changes after the loss to Tunisia, and it seemed to help. Bobosi Byaruhanga and Baba Alhassan made the midfield stronger, while Travis Mutyaba, Rogers Kassim Mato, and Allan Okello gave striker Jude Ssemugabi some backup up front.

It was an exciting East African match.

Denis Onyango, the goalie, was back as captain for the first time in six years, which seemed to help calm things down. Uganda was in charge for most of the game and had some solid chances.

But Tanzania scored first when Baba Alhassan was called for a handball in the box in the 57th minute. Saimon Msuva nailed the penalty, putting Tanzania ahead.

Uganda kept pushing for a goal as the rain picked up. They finally got it in the 81st minute when Denis Omedi crossed the ball to Karl Uche Ikpeazu, who headed it in to even the score.

Then, late in the game, Uganda got a penalty when James Bogere was fouled. Allan Okello took the shot but missed, and Tanzania got away with a draw.

After the match, Put defended Okello, even comparing him to a legend.

Even Messi misses penalties. He’s human, the coach said. He stepped up. He missed; it happens. Maybe he'll score next game, and we'll all be happy. That’s how it goes.

Put said the team will look at the game and try to improve their scoring before their last important match.

In the other Group C game, Nigeria beat Tunisia 3-2. This means the fight for the second spot will be close.

Uganda will play Nigeria in their last game, while Tunisia will play Tanzania. Both games are on Wednesday, December 31, at 7:00 PM EAT.

KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN

KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.

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KCCA climbs to fourth as UPL title race heats up in February

Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.

Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.

But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.

The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.

KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.

After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.

From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.

Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.

TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE

Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.

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Vipers stay top with 38 points, but Kitara is closing fast

NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.

Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.

Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.

NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.

Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.

NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.

So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.

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