Uganda's Cranes had their hearts broken when Allan Okello, aka Starboy, missed a penalty late in the game. The match ended in a 1-1 draw against Tanzania's Taifa Stars in a tough Group C game for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Because of this, Uganda didn't get their first-ever AFCON win this year, and they're now stuck with just one point from two games before heading into the final group match, which will decide everything.

Uganda's coach, Paul Put, switched things up. He made five changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Tunisia. He brought back veteran goalie Denis Onyango to lead the team. Travis Mutyaba, Baba Alhassan, Allan Okello, and Bobosi Byaruhanga also got a spot in the starting lineup, while Kenneth Ssemakula, Toby Sibbick, Jordan Obita, Jude Ssemugabi, and Rogers Kassim Mato stayed where they were.

Uganda was all over the first half, creating some very good chances but not scoring. The closest they got was when Alhassan Baba knocked a header off the crossbar after a great pass from Abdu-Aziz Kayondo, who looked good and worked well with Mutyaba on the left.

Tanzania didn't threaten much. Onyango didn't have much to do since John Kalvin, Novatus Miroshi, and Simon Msuva all missed their shots.

But things changed soon after the game started back up. Around the 57th minute, Tanzania got a penalty when Baba Alhassan supposedly touched the ball with his hand in the box. A minute later, Simon Msuva, who plays for Al-Talaba SC in Iraq, coolly scored from the penalty spot, putting Tanzania up 1-0.

Uganda responded quickly, and Put's substitutions paid off. In the 81st minute, Karl Uchechukwu Ikpeazu, who had just come into the game, jumped high to head in a cross from Denis Omedi. It was two substitutes that tied the game!

Then, late in the game, James Bogere was taken down in the box, and Uganda got a penalty. With just minutes left, Allan Okello from Vipers SC shot the ball over the crossbar, shocking everyone on the Ugandan bench.

Tanzania almost won the game in extra time when Msuva got to a loose ball, but Onyango made a wonderful save to keep the score tied.

Because of the draw, Uganda is still looking for their first win at AFCON 2025 and is at the bottom of the group with one point before its last Group C game against Nigeria, one of Africa's best teams.

Two teams that lost their first games in the Africa Cup of Nations will clash this Saturday at Stade El Barid in Rabat.

If either team loses, they might get knocked out early from Africa’s big tournament, so both teams will really want to win this one.

Match in short

Uganda didn't have a great start to their Africa Cup of Nations. They lost 3-1 to Tunisia in their first match.

Now, Paul Put’s team needs to beat Tanzania on Saturday to avoid getting kicked out of the tournament. But their recent play hasn't been good.

After losing to Tunisia, they’ve now lost three of their last four matches in all competitions and only won one.

It doesn't look good when it comes to AFCON, having lost six of their last nine games.

Uganda will want to avoid losing three straight for the first time since November 2023.

Plus, if they lose, it will make it harder to advance because they still have to play Nigeria in their last group match.

Still, they’ll think they have a chance against Tanzania, which has been struggling.

Tanzania hasn’t won in eight matches in all competitions (D2, L6), and they’ve lost their last five.

After losing to Nigeria on Tuesday, they are still looking for their first-ever victory at the AFCON after 10 matches (three draws and seven losses).

You’d have to go back to early August to find the last time Hemed Suleiman’s team won, which was a close 2–1 victory over Madagascar.

They’ve scored four goals in their last two matches, including one against Nigeria. The Taifa Stars have been better on attack, having failed to score in their three previous matches.

But they still need to work on defence. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches and have allowed 12 goals.

Team updates

For Uganda, things are the same with injuries. No new issues before Saturday's match.

Besides Yakoub Suleiman and Feisal Salum, who both missed the first match, everyone else is ready to play.

We probably won’t see much change in the team that the coach will pick on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Tanzania might also go with the same team that started against Nigeria, so Zuberi Foba will probably start.

Even though he let in two goals, the goalie played well and stopped Nigeria’s attack a bunch of times.

Defender Novatus Miroshi, who plays for Goztepe in Turkey, played in midfield against Nigeria and did great.

He’ll likely team up with Alphonce Msanga in defensive midfield again to protect the defence.

Uganda might start with:

Magoola; Sibbick, Torach, Obita, Kayondo; Ssemugabi, Semakula, Aucho, Mato; Lorenzen, Mukwala

Tanzania might start with:

Foba; Kapombe, Mwamnyeto, Hamad, Hussein; Mirishi, Msanga; Msuva, M’Mbobwa, Allarkhia; Samatta