{"id":9903,"date":"2026-09-25T09:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T06:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/?p=9903"},"modified":"2026-09-25T09:28:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T06:28:12","slug":"rogers-mato-uganda-tunisia-afcon-2027-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/rogers-mato-uganda-tunisia-afcon-2027-draw\/","title":{"rendered":"Rogers Mato Earns Uganda Historic Draw Against Tunisia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rogers Mato\u2019s second-half goal earned Uganda Cranes a 1-1 draw against Tunisia in their opening 2027 AFCON qualifier in Rad\u00e8s.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rogers Mato delivered a memorable second-half equaliser as Uganda Cranes fought back to hold Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rad\u00e8s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tunisia took an early lead through Adem Arous, but Uganda refused to allow the match to slip away. Mato restored parity in the 68th minute with a long-range finish, earning Paul Put\u2019s side an important away point on Thursday, September 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result gave Uganda a positive beginning to its Group H programme against one of Africa\u2019s traditionally established national teams. CAF\u2019s official fixture schedule<\/a> placed Uganda alongside Tunisia, Libya and Botswana in the qualifying group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tunisia Strike Early in Rad\u00e8s<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hosts began with urgency and placed Uganda under pressure during the opening stages. Playing their first qualifier under coach Mouine Cha\u00e2bani, Tunisia moved the ball quickly and attempted to exploit spaces before the Cranes could settle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arous produced the breakthrough after receiving the ball from Khalil Ayari. The early goal gave the Carthage Eagles control of the contest and forced Uganda to pursue the game away from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cranes had travelled to Tunisia following a demanding build-up. Put said part of his squad<\/a> had endured a 28-hour journey, leaving limited time for preparation and recovery before the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uganda were also without some established defensive options. Nevertheless, the visitors remained competitive after conceding and prevented Tunisia from building a commanding advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goalkeeper Denis Onyango provided experience at the back, while Uganda\u2019s defensive unit grew more comfortable as the match progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uganda
Mato celebrates with Bogere and Aziz Kayondo. Credit: FUFA Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cranes Improve After Difficult Opening<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Uganda gradually found a better balance between defending and attacking. Rather than committing too many players forward immediately, the Cranes remained patient and waited for opportunities to emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That discipline kept the deficit at one goal and allowed Uganda to approach the second half with a realistic chance of recovering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put\u2019s side showed greater attacking ambition after the interval. The midfield competed more effectively for possession, while Uganda\u2019s forward players began occupying spaces closer to Tunisia\u2019s penalty area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The improvement eventually created the moment that transformed the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mato Produces the Equaliser<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mato brought Uganda level in the 68th minute, beating the Tunisian defence with a powerful effort from outside the penalty area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal rewarded Uganda\u2019s persistence and continued the forward\u2019s encouraging form<\/a> for club and country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mato entered the international window after making a strong start to the 2026\/27 season with Heart of Midlothian. He had scored in both of his first two competitive starts for the Scottish club, including a goal against Stenhousemuir in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His contribution in Tunisia demonstrated why his pace and direct approach remain valuable to the Cranes. More importantly, the goal came when Uganda needed someone to take responsibility in a difficult away fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tunisia attempted to regain control after the equaliser, but the Cranes protected the point and avoided conceding again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Match Details<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Match detail<\/strong><\/td>Information<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Competition<\/td>2027 AFCON qualifiers<\/td><\/tr>
Group<\/td>Group H<\/td><\/tr>
Fixture<\/td>Tunisia vs Uganda<\/td><\/tr>
Result<\/td>Tunisia 1-1 Uganda<\/td><\/tr>
Venue<\/td>Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, Rad\u00e8s<\/td><\/tr>
Tunisia scorer<\/td>Adem Arous<\/td><\/tr>
Uganda scorer<\/td>Rogers Mato, 68th minute<\/td><\/tr>
Uganda coach<\/td>Paul Put<\/td><\/tr>
Date<\/td>September 24, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Uganda Cranes XI that started against Tunisia. Credit: FUFA Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Significant Result for Uganda<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Uganda entered the contest having struggled in recent meetings with Tunisia. The Carthage Eagles defeated the Cranes 3-1 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when Denis Omedi scored Uganda\u2019s late consolation goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That background made the response in Rad\u00e8s particularly encouraging. Uganda conceded early but avoided becoming disorganised, stayed within reach of the hosts and found an equaliser during the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The performance was not flawless. Tunisia enjoyed periods of control, while Uganda still had to absorb pressure away from home. However, the Cranes displayed resilience and showed that they could recover after a difficult start against strong opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Put, the result also supplied useful information as he continues building towards the continental finals. Competitive qualifiers provide a more demanding test of his players than friendly matches, even though Uganda already has a place at AFCON 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Group H Qualification Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Uganda has qualified automatically for the 2027 AFCON finals as one of the three co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The co-hosts are still participating in the qualification competition. CAF has explained that in groups containing an automatically qualified host, one additional team will advance to the final tournament. That arrangement leaves Tunisia, Libya and Botswana competing for the remaining qualification position in Group H. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uganda\u2019s results still matter. The matches give the Cranes<\/a> competitive preparation, affect the group standings and allow Put to assess his squad against opponents pursuing qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Libya Test Comes Next<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Uganda\u2019s next qualifier is against Libya on Tuesday, September 29. CAF scheduled the match for 16:00 GMT, which is 7:00 p.m. East African Time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fixture provides another opportunity for the Cranes to develop momentum following the draw in Tunisia. It will also test their recovery because only five days separate the two matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put must decide whether to retain the core of the team that performed in Rad\u00e8s or introduce fresh players from his expanded squad<\/a>. Mato\u2019s form makes him a strong candidate to remain involved, although the coach will also consider fatigue, tactical balance and the qualities Libya bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Tunisia XI. Credit: FUFA Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Follow Uganda Cranes on Bangbet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eligible supporters can follow available international football events through Bangbet Uganda<\/a>. Match markets and prices can change, and no selection<\/a> guarantees a return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambling is restricted to adults aged 25 and above in Uganda. Set firm spending and time limits, keep essential money separate, and never chase losses. Bangbet\u2019s responsible-gambling guide<\/a> explains the available safeguards, while the support and complaints guide<\/a> lists official assistance channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Uganda\u2019s draw in Rad\u00e8s was built on patience, resilience and one outstanding finish from Mato. Tunisia\u2019s early goal could have placed the Cranes under sustained pressure, but Put\u2019s team remained organised and improved after the interval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mato\u2019s equaliser ensured Uganda began its qualifying campaign with a valuable away point and added another important moment to the forward\u2019s growing international reputation. Attention now turns to Libya, where the Cranes will seek to build on the discipline and determination displayed in Tunisia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rogers Mato\u2019s second-half goal earned Uganda Cranes a 1-1 draw against Tunisia in their opening 2027 AFCON qualifier in Rad\u00e8s. Rogers Mato delivered a memorable second-half equaliser as Uganda Cranes fought back to hold Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rad\u00e8s. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[77,221,434,287,440,309,284,222],"class_list":["post-9903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-news","tag-afcon","tag-afcon-2027","tag-afcon-qualifiers","tag-okello","tag-paul-put","tag-rogers-mato","tag-tunisia","tag-uganda-cranes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9903"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9904,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9903\/revisions\/9904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ug\/temps\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}