An 87th minute penalty strike by Godfrey Walusimbi was all Uganda Cranes needed to salvage a point against western African giants Senegal in a world cup qualifier game played at Mandela national stadium, Namboole.
The cranes started the game on a bright note but their dominance in the opening ten minutes could not result into creation of chances for the front two men in Brian Umony and Emma Okwi.
The visitors regained full control of proceedings after ten minutes and forced the hosts into making errors under pressure and their dominance paid in the 36th minute
when Papiss Demba Cisse fired them into the lead with the easiest of tap ins after danger man Ndoye Dane had done the donkey work.
The left winger who tormented Masaba Simeone for most of the first half rounded off two Ugandan defenders in Henry Kalungi and Masaba Simon before laying a brilliant ball for the Newcastle striker to score the opening goal of the game.
The Lions of Teranga continued to press the hosts allowing them to only one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes courtesy of Brian Umony.
After recess, Cranes coach Bobby Williamson made a double substitution introducing Geoffrey Massa for Umony and Moses Oloya for the off color Dan Wagaluka in search for an equalizer and may be the winning goal but Joseph Koto’s men stood still and continued to play their game. At one time, you would be fooled to think they are the home side.
In the 71st minute, Mane Sadio thought he had extended Senegal’s lead only for the assistant referee flag to rule his goal offside after Ndoye’s fierce free kick was parried in the striker’s path by Onyango Denis.
The cranes woe were extended as skipper Andrew Mwesigwa was stretcherd off the pitch after sustaining an injury in trying to clear from danger and was replaced by Hassan Wasswa who did perform well when he came on.
As the game seemed to be haeded for Uganda’s first loss since 2005, Aboudulaye Ba fouled substitute Geoffrey Massa in the forbidden area and Algerian referee Mohamed Benouza pointed to the spot to the excitement of the over 35,000 crowd. Godfrey Walusimbi who had a good performance made no mistake but send custodian Ousmane Mane to the wrong side for Uganda’s equalizer.
Even the five minutes of added time could not change the result as Senegal again failed to win on Ugandan soil once again.
Senegal remains top of group J on four points while Uganda go second on 2 points. Liberia and Angola the other two members in the group clash tomorrow.
Uganda Cranes line up. Denis Onyango, Simon Masaba, Henry Kalungi, Andrew Mwesigwa (Hassan Wasswa), Godfrrey Walusimbi, Tony Mawejje, Patrick Ochan, Dan Wagaluka (Oloya Moses), Brian Umony (Geoffrey Massa), Emma Okwi and Martin Mutumba Kayongo.
