Uganda Cranes produced a more composed and disciplined display to secure a 1-1 draw against The Gambia in an international friendly played on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Stade de Marrakech Annexe in Morocco.
The result marked a significant improvement for the Cranes, who had suffered a 3-0 defeat to Cameroon just three days earlier in their first friendly fixture.
Head coach Paul Joseph Put responded with several tactical changes to the starting XI, a move that helped Uganda deliver a more resilient performance against a Gambia side led by former Cranes coach Jonathan McKinstry.
Uganda took the lead in the 25th minute when winger Rogers Kassim Mato of FK Vardar Skopje rose to meet Patrick Jonah Kakande’s well-delivered corner with a powerful header.
The Gambia responded ten minutes later with a near miss that struck the woodwork, before equalizing from the penalty spot through Hibernian FC forward Alasana Manneh just before halftime.
The Cranes suffered a blow early in the second half when captain and goalkeeper Isima Watenga was forced off with a knee injury and had to be stretchered off. Joel Mutakubwa replaced him in the 52nd minute and held his ground for the rest of the match.
Coach Put introduced several youthful options in the second half, including defenders Hilary Mukundane and Enock Ssebagala, along with attackers Travis Mutyaba, Denis Omedi, and Shafik Nana Kwikiriza.
The substitutions injected energy into the side, with Omedi and Allan Oyirwoth both creating scoring chances late on.
Despite not finding a winner, the improved tactical organization and attacking urgency were seen as positives for Uganda as they continue to prepare for the AFCON 2025 finals.
