International Friendly
Uganda 0-0 Malawi
Mandela National stadium, Namboole
Tuesday, 27-03-2018
Uganda failed to make it two wins out of two when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Malawi in an international friendly.
Having won 3-1 on Saturday against Sao Tome, the Cranes failed to create any clear openings through the 90 minutes of play against Malawi.
The game failed to hit top gear until the 28th minutes when Cranes striker Yunus Ssentamu charged down a clearance by Malawi goalkeeper Charles Swini and it fell in the path of Emmanuel Okwi who failed to hit the target with the goal begging and his weak effort was collected by defender Denis Chembezi.
Two minutes later, Ssentamu dribbled past two Malawi defenders but failed to work the keeper as his left footed shot could only find the side netting.
The second half started pretty much like the first with little goal mouth action until the 73rd minute when substitute Cheiukepo Musowoya curled a powerful shot and Ugandan captain Denis Onyango tiped it over for a corner.
With two minutes to go, substitute Abraham Ndugwa made a decent run down the right and produced a low cross that was turned onto the upright by defender Limbikani Mzava and when the ball came back into play, no Cranes player could pounce onto it and the away side cleared their lines.
Uganda’s last chance of the game fell to defender Murushid Jjuuko who also failed to hit the target from outside the area after brilliantly controlling a Godfrey Walusimbi cross.
In the third minute of additional time, Malawi got a golden chance to win it at the death when midfielder Roben Niealande sent a delicious free kick into the box but Musowoya headed straight at Onyango from six yards.
Uganda and Malawi will now have to wait till may for the next international window in which they are expected to play two more friendlies.
Their next competitive fixtures will be in September when Uganda travel to Tanzania while Malawi are away in Morocco, both in the Cameroon 2019 AFCON qualifies.
Focus now turns to the Hippos and Cubs who will be in action this weekend for the Africa U20 qualifiers and the 2018 CECAFA U17 challenge cup respectively.
Uganda Cranes team that started against Malawi.
- Denis Onyango (c) GK
- Denis Iguma
- Godfrey Walusimbi
- Murushid Jjuuko
- Bevis Mugabi
- Hassan Wasswa
- Tadeo Lwanga
- Joseph Ochaya
- Emmanuel Okwi
- Yunus Ssentamu
- Milton Karisa