James Bogere’s late goal earned Uganda Cranes a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, completing an unbeaten two-match friendly series in Johannesburg.
Nathanael Mbuku put the Leopards ahead, but Bogere struck after combining with substitute Denis Omedi.
The result completed an unbeaten series for Paul Put’s side. Uganda won the opening match 2-0 through Bogere and Kelvin Owusu Boateng, producing a 3-1 combined score.
According to the DR Congo 1-1 Uganda Cranes match report, five players earned their first senior international caps during the second friendly.
DR Congo vs Uganda match summary
| Match detail | Information |
| Result | DR Congo 1-1 Uganda |
| Competition | International friendly |
| Venue | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg |
| DR Congo scorer | Nathanael Mbuku |
| Uganda scorer | James Bogere |
| Uganda assist | Denis Omedi |
| Half-time score | 0-0 |
| Series record | Uganda: one win and one draw |
| Combined score | Uganda 3-1 DR Congo |
DR Congo control the early exchanges
Put changed his starting team. Kingdom Osayi debuted in goal, Kenneth Ssemakula captained the side, and Baba Alhassan partnered Abdoulaye Sissako in midfield.
DR Congo controlled possession but struggled to turn that territorial advantage into clear first-half opportunities.
Uganda’s best early opening arrived shortly after the interval. Sissako released Vula inside the penalty area, but the forward directed his close-range attempt wide.
Mbuku punishes Uganda’s mistake
The breakthrough arrived after Uganda lost possession while playing from the back. Mbuku intercepted the ball before beating Osayi with a low 20-yard drive.
Osayi later made an important save to keep Uganda within touching distance as Put turned to his bench.
Bogere, Omedi, Travis Mutyaba, Joseph Sseremba, Frank Ssebuufu and Geofrey Lubanga Kene entered during the second half. The changes transformed the contest.
Bogere delivers another decisive goal
Omedi recovered possession and released Bogere, who powered his finish beyond Dimitry Bertaud.
It was Bogere’s second goal of the series. He also opened the scoring in Uganda’s 2-0 victory three days earlier after pressing the DR Congo goalkeeper and punishing a passing error.
Despite starting on the bench, Bogere received Uganda’s highest player rating after changing the outcome.
Key match statistics
| Statistic | Uganda | DR Congo |
| Possession | 44% | 56% |
| Shots on target | 1 | 3 |
| Corners | 3 | 2 |
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
The available DR Congo versus Uganda match statistics show the Leopards’ greater control. Uganda converted their only attempt on target, while Osayi kept the Cranes competitive.
Uganda Cranes player ratings
| Player | Rating | Performance summary |
| James Bogere | 8.0 | Made a clever run and scored the equaliser |
| Abdoulaye Sissako | 7.5 | Controlled possession and created Uganda’s best early chance |
| Kingdom Osayi | 7.0 | Delivered a confident debut and an important save |
| Toby Sibbick | 6.5 | Adapted effectively after changing position |
| Denis Omedi | 6.5 | Recovered possession and created Bogere’s goal |
| Kenneth Ssemakula | 6.0 | Improved after moving into central defence |
| Baba Alhassan | 6.0 | Competed strongly but could improve his passing |
| Sadam Masereka | 5.0 | Threatened with pace but lacked a consistent final ball |
The complete Uganda Cranes player ratings against DR Congo identified Sissako as another leading performer. His passing kept the midfield moving and created Vula’s opportunity.
Bogere earned an 8/10 rating, while Put received the same mark for maintaining an organised team despite extensive rotation.
Five players receive senior debuts
The friendly delivered senior international debuts to Osayi, Debohi, Masereka, Diaby and Lubanga Kene.
Put used the Johannesburg series to assess Uganda’s depth. Debohi performed steadily before leaving injured, Osayi appeared comfortable with the ball, and Masereka displayed encouraging dribbling ability.
What the result means for Ugandan supporters
Uganda’s unbeaten series encourages supporters. The Cranes won 2-0 before responding to adversity in the return match despite extensive rotation.
Bogere’s emergence is especially significant. The youngster has shown that he can press defenders, attack space and convert important chances.
Sissako strengthened his case for continued involvement, while Osayi expanded Put’s goalkeeping options. Their challenge is transferring these performances into competitive AFCON qualifiers.
Frequently asked questions
What was the DR Congo vs Uganda result?
The international friendly ended in a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Who scored for Uganda Cranes?
James Bogere scored Uganda’s late equaliser following a pass from Denis Omedi.
How did Uganda perform across the two friendlies?
Uganda won the first match 2-0 and drew the second 1-1, finishing the series unbeaten.
Which Uganda players made their senior debuts?
Kingdom Osayi, Gaucho Debohi, Sadam Masereka, Souleymane Diaby and Geofrey Lubanga Kene received their first senior caps.
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Conclusion
Uganda’s draw completed a valuable international window in which Put tested his squad without losing to strong African opposition.
DR Congo controlled much of the second match, but Uganda remained competitive and responded through two substitutes. Bogere’s second goal of the series was the defining moment, while Sissako, Osayi and several debutants gave supporters further reasons for optimism ahead of Uganda’s next competitive assignment.
