By Vivian Lyazi
The date had been circled long before kickoff — December 27, 2025.
Rabat, Morocco. AFCON. Uganda versus Tanzania.
This was more than a football match. For Uganda, it felt like football settling an old score by proxy. Tunisia had handed the Cranes a bruising defeat earlier, and in the strange arithmetic of football justice, many felt Tanzania should pay the bill. History, after all, has a way of collecting its debts.
Ugandan supporters arrived in Rabat with purpose, not by chance. A smooth one-hour train ride from Casablanca delivered them into the Moroccan capital, calm, confident, and ready. Preparation mattered drums, voices, and even strategy.
Along the way, chance encounters turned into advantage. Curious Moroccan youths, drawn by the spectacle, asked which country the noise belonged to. “Uganda,” came the answer. The name alone did its magic. Soon, chants followed, and an invitation sealed it. Tickets were offered. Drums changed hands. Just like that, Moroccans became Ugandans for the afternoon.
By the time the march reached Stade El Barid, Uganda’s presence felt overwhelming until the Tanzanians appeared. They too had come prepared, matching noise with noise, helped by hired local support. For two AFCON debutants playing far from home, the turnout was impressive: 10,540 fans braving the cold in an 18,500-seater stadium.
On the pitch, the first half was defined by effort and intensity. Uganda pressed relentlessly, forcing errors and pinning Tanzania back. Yet on the counterattack, danger lurked, keeping Ugandan hearts in suspense.
The second half exploded into life just before the hour mark. A handball. A whistle. A penalty. Simon Msuva struck cleanly, sending the ball into the roof of the net and plunging the Ugandan end into gloom.
Tanzania, still searching for their first AFCON win in 11 matches, defended grimly until the 80th minute. Then came salvation. Substitute Uche Ikpeazu, the London-born striker plying his trade in Scotland, rose above the defense and powered home a classic diving header. The goal belonged fully to Uganda.
Moments later, the heavens opened. Rain poured as both teams chased a winner, turning the contest into a chaotic battle of slips, slides, and survival football.
Then came the moment that will linger longest.
Allan Okello. Penalty.
Hope froze in the air. The strike sailed high and over. The rain kept falling, but the noise disappeared.
At full time, it ended 1–1 one point each from two games. Qualification now looks like a steep climb, made harder by the knowledge that Nigeria, Uganda’s next opponents, had just beaten the team that defeated the Cranes.
The mathematics are unforgiving. Faith, however, remains.
As the journey continues toward Fez on December 30, the drums will travel on. So will the hope.
