Uganda Cranes showed glimpses of promise but were held to a 1-1 draw by The Gambia in an intense international friendly clash played at the Stade de Marrakech Annexe Pitch in Morocco on Monday evening. Rogers Mato’s early strike gave the Cranes a lead, but a late first-half penalty from Musa Jatta denied Uganda a much-needed morale-boosting win following their recent 3-0 defeat to Cameroon.
The game, broadcast live with Uganda starting brightly. In the 25th minute, winger Rogers Mato capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the opener, sparking wild celebrations among his teammates. Uganda’s high-pressing approach and crisp passing in the opening half suggested a team eager to bounce back from recent disappointment.
However, The Gambia, coached by former Cranes tactician Johnny McKinstry, grew into the game and were rewarded just before halftime. A moment of miscommunication in Uganda’s defense led to a penalty, calmly converted by Musa Jatta in the 44th minute to level the scores. The goal marked a turning point as the West Africans began asserting more control.
Uganda’s head coach Paul Putt made a crucial change at the start of the second half, introducing goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa for captain Isima Watenga in the 52nd minute. Despite spirited efforts from both sides, the second half remained goalless, with Uganda failing to reclaim their dominance while The Gambia stayed resolute in defense.
This was Uganda’s second friendly on Moroccan soil, part of the team’s preparations for upcoming international fixtures. While the Cranes showed improvement and attacking intent, they will be concerned by their inability to hold onto a lead , a theme that has haunted them in recent outings. The friendly ended 1-1, leaving fans and technical staff with positives to build on and flaws to urgently address.
