Uganda’s hopes of advancing at AFCON 2025 took a hit in the East African derby at Stade El Barid, where the Cranes were desperate for their first victory of the tournament.
Locked at 1-1 deep into stoppage time, Uganda were handed a lifeline when James Bogere was brought down inside the box.
With the pressure of qualification hanging in the balance, 25-year-old playmaker Allan Okello stepped up to take the decisive spot-kick.
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His strike, however, flew over the bar, forcing Uganda to settle for a single point in a clash they had earmarked as must-win.
According to Sportpesablog, Uganda captain and Mamelodi Sundowns veteran Denis Onyango urged unity within the squad, cautioning against directing blame at Okello.
“The team is behind him regardless of what has happened,” said the 40-year-old shot stopper,
“Maybe he will be our match winner against Nigeria, you never know. We need to protect him and keep him strong because that’s the game of football. He missed the opportunity to win it for us, but they also had opportunities and could have won it.”
The veteran goalkeeper, who came out of international retirement to lead the Cranes in Morocco, stressed that the experience should serve as a valuable lesson for the young midfielder.
“That’s football. We believe he will learn from it and come back stronger because he is still a young man,” Onyango added.
The result leaves Uganda bottom of Group C with just one point from two matches, following their opening 3-1 defeat to Tunisia.
To keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive, the Cranes now face a daunting final group match against Nigeria on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles have already secured qualification after victories over Tunisia and Tanzania, but Onyango believes Uganda can still produce a historic upset.
“A lot needs to be done, more hard work is needed because we are going to play a very good team,” he said.
“They have quality individually and as a group, but in every game you get moments. It’s how you take them, and we believe we can cause an upset.”
For automatic qualification, Uganda must beat Nigeria and hope Tanzania draw or defeat Tunisia while also overcoming a significant goal difference gap.
A win would also give the Cranes a chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams, depending on results elsewhere.