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The fight for the second ticket is now between Uganda and Tanzania, although Niger, with two points, are also still in it.
Substitute Rogers Mato received a through ball from Farouk Miya to slot home the winner for the Uganda Cranes against Tanzania in Dar es Salam Tuesday night.
The goal, Uganda’s second in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, not only got the Cranes back in business but also relieved some pressure off head coach Milutin Sredojević.
The Cranes have now moved to four points, level with Tanzania, who won the first game of the doubleheader in Egypt last Friday.
Having gone into the doubleheader with Tanzania with just one point and bottom of the log, Micho’s charges needed points but started on the back foot after that loss in Ismailia.
Going into Tuesday’s game, the Cranes were still rooted at the base of Group F with one point and just a goal scored.
Tanzania were in control of the second place and only needed a draw to remain in the driving seat.
Everything worked in favour of the hosts and against the visitors.
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20:34 - 28.03.2023
AFCON 2023 Mato late strike redeems Cranes
The Cranes needed to avoid defeat to keep their chances of returning to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alive, but took all three thanks to added time winner that silenced the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
There was a long forced break in the later stages of the first half after some floodlights went off, which dealt a blow to any momentum the Cranes hoped to finish the first period with.
A relatively balanced second half with barely any clear-cut chances needed some lighting up and Miya combined well with the KCCA forward to silence the partisan home crowd and give Uganda all three points.
Algeria are untouchable in Group F and moved to 12 points from four games after that 1-0 win over Niger on Monday.
The North Africans have already booked their slot in the finals with two games to play in the group.
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The fight for the second ticket is now squarely between Uganda and Tanzania, although Niger, with two points, are also still in it.
Uganda still has to play Niger away from home and Algeria at home to conclude Group F.
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