Uganda 0-0 Burkina Faso
The Cranes missed an opportunity to reclaim group D leadership after being held to a goalless draw by visitors Burkina Faso at Namboole.
The hosts came into the came as favourites due to an impregnable home record and did start well nearly getting ahead as early as the second minute.
Farouk Miya combined well with Ochaya on the left flank but his low cross cum shot found no one to connect it into the net.
Eight minutes later, Tonny Mawejje’s cross rattled the cross bar and the hosts cleared the danger.
In the 16th minute, William Luwagga Kizito had a chance after receiving a Miya pass but shot wide.
From this moment, the visitors settled and began dictating proceedings frustrating the Cranes with their short inter-passing game initiated by skipper Charles Kabore in the middle.
However, they had goalie Daouda Diakate to thank in the 36th minute after he dealt well with Ochaya free kick.
The goalie punched the ball away from danger and his resilient backline cleared any would be danger.
With five minutes to half time, the Stallions got their first real sight on goal with Jonathan Pitroipa beating Denis Guma down on the left but his low cross was cleared before Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore could make a connection.
Cranes skipper Massa who had a quiet afternoon thanks to Bakary Kone had a chance to increase his goal tally at Namboole but headed over the bar from Ochaya cross.
In the second half, it was a little bit even although the Cranes created the better of chances which they failed to put away.
Micho made his first change in the 67th minute with Okwi being replaced by Moses Oloya and it was at this juncture that the game registered its first shot on target – Massa free kick after being fouled by Kone was easily saved Diakite.
Miya had a chance to score in the 72nd minute but shot wide and wild with the goal at his mercy after being teed up by Oloya.
The Standard Liege midfielder moments after that made way for Orlando Pirates’ Yasser Mugerwa but it was Stallions that nearly broke the hearts of Ugandans with ten minutes time.
A ball over the top found goalie Onyango out of his area and he opted to chest control but the ball fell to Alain Traore’s foot who shot first time towards an empty goal but his effort brushed off the cross bar to the relief of the crowd.
Micho’s final throw of the dice then saw Vipers’ forward Erisa Ssekisambu come on for Mawejje and in the third minute of added time, the latter headed Denis Guma’s cross into Oloya’s path and with the goalie beaten, shot wide to dismay of Ugandans.
The final whistle was greeted with a loud silence from the 42,000 seater as the Cranes yet again faltered where it mattered most.
The visitors finished with a man less after Charles Kabore was sent off for a second yellow card.
The 1978 finalists remain second in the group on seven points same as the Stallions who have a superior head to head with two games against similar opponents (Botswana & Comoros) remaining.
Action in the campaign resumes in June this year with Uganda away to Botswana and Comoros hosting the 2013 finalists.
Uganda Cranes Line up
Denis Onyango (GK), Denis Guma, Joseph Ochaya, Hassan Wasswa, Isaac Isinde, Aucho Khalid, Tony Mawejje (Erisa Sekisambu), William Luwagga Kizito, Emma Okwi (Moses Oloya), Farouk Miya (Yasser Mugerwa) and Geoffrey Massa (C)
Unused substitutes
Robert Odongkara (GK), Timothy Awany, Michael Azira and Godfrey Walusimbi