In Summary: James Bogere scored his first competitive goal for the senior national team in the eighth minute, but Losika Ratshukudu equalised before half-time. Uganda now have five points from three matches, one ahead of Libya.
Hoima City, Uganda — Uganda Cranes missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of Group H after being held to a 1-1 draw by Botswana in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Hoima City Stadium on Saturday.
James Bogere gave the hosts an early lead in the eighth minute, but Losika Ratshukudu equalised for the visitors in the 30th minute as both teams settled for a point.
Head coach Paul Put deployed a three-man defence comprising Rogers Torach, Toby Sibbick and Kenneth Ssemakula, with Nathan Asiimwe and Aziz Kayondo operating as wing-backs.
Bobosi Byaruhanga returned to the starting line-up for the first time since Uganda’s encounter with Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He partnered Baba Alhassan in midfield.
Bogere was handed his first competitive start, leading the attack alongside Kelvin Boateng and Arnold Vula, who scored the winner against Libya in Uganda’s previous home qualifier in Hoima.
The hosts made a bright start when Bogere capitalised on a defensive mistake, dispossessing a Botswana player before curling the ball into the net in the eighth minute.
Botswana responded and restored parity through Ratshukudu in the 30th minute, sending the teams into the half-time break level at 1-1.
Uganda suffered another setback shortly before the interval when goalkeeper Denis Onyango picked up an injury and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Kingdom Osayi in the 40th minute.
The Cranes returned for the second half in search of a winner but struggled to break down Botswana’s defence.
Put made a double substitution in the 55th minute, bringing on Herbert Bockhorn for Asiimwe, with the defender making his national team debut, while Travis Mutyaba replaced Boateng.
Byaruhanga came close to restoring Uganda’s lead in the 60th minute, but his effort from the edge of the box went wide after he was set up by Bogere.
The Cranes made another double change in the 81st minute, introducing Denis Omedi and Frank Ssebufu for Vula and Bogere respectively, but the hosts could not find a second goal.
The draw leaves Uganda top of Group H with five points from three matches. Libya are second with four points, Botswana have three, while Tunisia sit bottom with two.
Uganda enjoyed 55% possession and completed 499 passes compared to Botswana’s 413. However, the visitors registered 12 shots, five of them on target, while the Cranes managed 11 attempts, with only two reaching the target.
Uganda will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s return fixture against Botswana in Gaborone, where Put’s side will seek to bounce back and strengthen their position in the race for qualification.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
