Tanzania and Uganda Battle to Goalless Draw in International Friendly

Tanzania and Uganda played out a goalless stalemate in an international friendly on June 5, 2026, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The match served as a key preparation fixture for both nations ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and regional tournaments.

With a crowd of over 20,000 in attendance, the Taifa Stars and the Cranes showed plenty of energy but lacked the clinical finishing to break the deadlock. The result extends Tanzania’s unbeaten run on home soil to three matches, while Uganda will be pleased with a solid defensive display away from home.

First Half: Cautious Start

The opening 45 minutes saw both teams feeling each other out. Tanzania, under head coach Hemed Suleiman, pressed high and tried to exploit the pace of winger Simon Msuva down the right flank. Uganda’s defence, led by captain Halid Lwaliwa, stood firm, cutting out crosses and denying space in the box.

Uganda’s best chance came in the 34th minute when midfielder Allan Okello unleashed a curling shot from 20 yards that forced Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula into a diving save. The hosts responded just before halftime, with Mbwana Samatta heading wide from a corner kick.

Second Half: Missed Opportunities

The tempo increased after the break. Tanzania introduced fresh legs in attack, including striker John Bocco, who immediately tested Uganda’s keeper with a powerful low drive in the 56th minute. The Cranes, however, grew into the game and created a golden opportunity in the 78th minute when substitute Fahad Bayo’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Tanzania defender Dickson Job.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the final 10 minutes, but fatigue and resolute defending saw the match end 0-0. The friendly gave coaches valuable insights into squad depth and tactical adjustments ahead of competitive fixtures.

What This Means

For Tanzania, the clean sheet will be encouraging, but the lack of goals in front of home fans remains a concern. Uganda will take confidence from a disciplined away performance, particularly from their backline. Both teams are expected to play further friendlies later in the month as they fine-tune their squads for continental challenges.