Uganda have moved a step closer to progressing through to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship after they recorded a 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe.
In a first half of few clear chances, Simbarashe Sithole wasted Zimbabwe's best opportunity by firing straight at the goalkeeper from 10 yards.
Uganda threatened through Yunus Sentamu after the break while Zimbabwe midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi struck the woodwork with a cross but both sides were left to settle for a point each ahead of the final game of the group.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Cape Town.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Zimbabwe and Uganda in the African Nations Championship.
Despite Morocco starting the tournament as the favourites to progress in this group, it's Zimbabwe and Uganda who begin Thursday looking to achieve a positive result to edge closer to the quarter-finals. Uganda would move to the brink of winning the group if they can record three points today.
We are still awaiting the team news from South Africa, so I will take the time to tell you what happened on matchday one. Zimbabwe were the underdogs when squaring off against Morocco,but they fought valiantly to hold their more illustrious opponents to a goalless draw.
As for Uganda, a double from Yunus Sentamu helped his side record a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso. As I have already stated, three points today will ensure that they will feature in the last eight, but if they secure four points from their remaining two games, they will win the group.
We are just over 15 minutes away from kickoff in Africa. How have you got this one going? You can make a case for both sides coming away with the win, with Zimbabwe proven in defence and Uganda proven in attack. I reckon Uganda will sneak it 1-0, but I've been proven wrong before!
A quick reminder before we get going. You can catch the match between Morocco and Burkina Faso with us at 6pm, GMT.
ZIMBABWE XI: Chigova; Chipeta, Zvirekwi, Jaure, Ncube; Phiri, Muparati, Mahachi, Ngoma, Sadiki; Sithole
UGANDA XI: Ochan; Kassaga, Iguma, Kabugo, Ntambi, Muleme; Ntege, Majwega, Wasswa; Olaki, Sentamu
We are underway in South Africa.
Uganda earn a early corner, but it's curled straight into the side netting. There's a strong breeze inside the stadium, apparently.
SHOT! The ball breaks to Muparati on the edge of the Uganda penalty area, but his low drive is straight at the goalkeeper.
BOOKING! That had to hurt! Uganda's Juuko Richard Kassaga has been booked for kicking a Zimbabwe player in the mid-drift. Unintentionally, I should add.
It sounds as if the crowd are trying to get a rendition of the Match of the Day theme tune on the go. They are going to need more than a trumpet and a vuvuzela for that.
Zimbabwe have dominated the opening 10 minutes, but whenever they get within shooting distance, they seem to miscue their shot.
It's fair to say that this match can only get better. The crowd don't care though - they are having a party in the stands.
Murparati earns Zimbabwe's first corner of the match, and although the delivery is a decent one, it's headed clear.
Danny Phiri is running a tight line. He barges into Ronald Francis Olaki, and the referee tells him that he won't tolerate any more challenges like that.
There's still nothing happening that is remotely significant. Uganda's two-goal hero from the weekend, Yunus Sentamu, has been largely anonymous.
I wouldn't go as far as saying that both teams seem content with not conceding, but a draw wouldn't be a bad result for either side. Zimbabwe would only have two points, but they have Burkina Faso in their final fixture.
CHANCE! Zimbabwe create their best opportunity of the match, but it's wasted. A ball was crossed in from the left for Ali Sadiki, but he sent his header several yards wide.
Uganda have had a bit more joy over the past five minutes, but they can't create anything. Eric Chipeta has looked solid in the Zimbabwe backline.
CHANCE! Big opening for Uganda, but it's one of the worst efforts that you will ever see. The ball fell to Sentamu 12 yards out, but his volley on goal ended up going for a throw in behind him. It had to be seen to be believed...
CHANCE! Zimbabwe reply through Simbarashe Sithole, but after he advances past the defender, his shot from an acute angle is well saved by Benjamin Ochan.
HALF TIME: Zimbabwe 0-0 Uganda
Well it improved shortly before the break, but that was an extremely uninspiring 45 minutes of football. Zimbabwe have been the better team, but Uganda still offer a threat on the break.
The standard of this encounter hasn't been the best. It's hard to compare what level of English football that this is similar to, but you are probably talking below the Conference North and South. That said, a couple of players have stood out for positive reasons more than others.
The two sides are slowly emerging back out onto the pitch. The crowd are still in carnival mode in the stands!
We are underway in the second half.
We have slipped straight into a similar routine to that of the first half, which is that nothing is happening apart from a couple of fouls.
CHANCE! What was I saying? A free kick is whipped into the penalty area, which Yunus Sentamu heads marginally wide of the post. He was barely seen during the opening half-hour, but he has been more prominent since then.
Zimbabwe have thrown on a couple of substitutes in the hope of taking the initiative in this match. Only time will tell if they are successful or not.
We are nearly an hour gone in Cape Town, and the stalemate remains. Morocco will be liking what they see so far.
Despite this game being a bit of a shocker, the enthusiasm of the African crowd is incredible. They haven't stopped making a noise all afternoon.
WOODWORK! Zimbabwe strike the post! I'd like to tell you that it came from an intentional effort, but it didn't. A cross from Kudakwashe Mahachi caught the corner of the crossbar.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe hasn't built on that near miss, and both sides are still failing to find a killer pass. 20 minutes remain for either side to find what would likely turn out to be a winning goal.
There have been 42 fouls in this match in 72 minutes. Crazy.
CHANCE! Another chance for Zimbabwe, and this time, they meant it. Kudakwashe Mahachi, who is the man of the match by far, whipped in a left-foot cross for Charles Sibanda, but he miscued his header wide of the post.
We have less than 10 minutes remaining now, and Uganda have definitely attempted to play further forward. They think that they should have a penalty after Yunus Sentamu is brought down in the area, but the referee decides otherwise.
Zimbabwe win a free kick around 30 yards from goal, but Danny Phiri's ambitious effort is easily claimed by the goalkeeper.
He may well have scored two goals in their first match, but that's incredibly greedy from Yunus Sentamu, who goes for glory from an acute angle rather than cross to the back post for his teammate. His attempt at goal went straight into the side-netting.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Zimbabwe work the ball down the left, but they are crowded out by Uganda and the resulting cross is easily cleared.
FULL TIME: Zimbabwe 0-0 Uganda
You could have probably predicted that result before the start of the match. I predicted just the one goal, but perhaps that was being ambitious. Zimbabwe had the better of possession, while Uganda threatened occasionally through Yunus Sentamu.
That draw takes Uganda to four points from their two games, and a win against Morocco in their final game will see them qualify. As for Zimbabwe, they need to beat Burkina Faso to progress through to the last eight.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. The match between Morocco and Burkina Faso follows in 30 minutes, so we hope that you join us for that. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
