By Robert Kayindi James
It was an epic tie as Uganda Cranes played Burkina Faso under floodlights on Tuesday evening at Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in the return leg of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
The two sides shared the spoils in a goalless draw in what the home side played as a tribute to Uganda’s fallen goal hero Abel Dhaira.
Uganda was seeking revenge having lost to the same side 1-0 three days back in Ouagadougou during the first leg.
Uganda Cranes dominated the game with Joseph Ochaya forcing the Stallions’ goalie into a save in the first half from a well taken free kick while Farouk Miya and later Moses Oloya both missed close chances in the second half.
In the changes made by the Cranes’ head tactician Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic who looked severely hungry for a win, Emmanuel Okwi was withdrawn for Oloya, Farouk Miya paved way for Yasser Mugerwa while deep in the half Tony Mawejje was withdrawn for Erisa Ssekisambu.
The visitors finished off with ten men after captain Kabore was sent off inside stoppage time by the center referee on a second booking but the opportunity came too late for the Cranes to exploit.
The result leaves Uganda in second place of the Group D log with 7 points as the leaders Burkina Faso who were the better side in a head-to-head with the Cranes after collecting four points in the double encounter between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Botswana is third with 6 points while Comoros remain bottom with 3 points.
On match day five, Uganda will play Botswana away before returning home to host Comoros in the final fixture of the qualifiers.
