Uganda earned a second draw of in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after playing to a goalless stalemate against Mali in a Group E match at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kampala on Monday evening.
The draw is Uganda’s second of the qualifying campaign in as many matches after holding Kenya to a draw in their first match on 2 September.
The result combined with Group E’s other match on Sunday, a 1-1 draw between Rwanda and Kenya, sees Uganda stagnate on third position in the standings with two points from two games.
Ibrahim Kone almost opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but his sliding effort from six-yards out was saved by Isma Watenga.
That chance proved to be the only bit of goal-mouth action in the opening 20 minutes, as both never looked like giving anything up, rather than go out and attack.
That set the tone for the rest of the half, as the final 25 minutes saw both sides commit numerous amount of fouls, while Emmnauel Okwi was on the receiving end of most of those hard challenges.
Uganda’s best chance of the half arrived just before the halftime break, as Derrick Nsibambi’s header was saved by Bosso Mounkoro.
The first meaningful chance of the second half arrived in the 50th minute, as Milton Karisa’s header crashed onto the crossbar, after getting on the end of Isaac Muleme’s cross.
Uganda were reduced to ten players on the 63rd minute when Murushid Juuko received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Malian striker Ibrahim Kone
Charles Traore had a chance to break the deadlock in the 76th minute but his glancing header sailed just wide of the upright.
Mustafa Kiiza almost gave Sundowns the lead in the 82nd minute, the defender got beyond his defender before firing a low effort at Josephs, who managed to palm the effort away.
Watenga was called into action minutes later once again, this time parrying Hamari Traore’s powerful effort out for a corner.
Mali finished the game the stronger of the two, but could not find the all important winning goal.
