Thursday afternoon’s game between Uganda and Kenya ended in a 1-1 draw as the hosts scored late to ensure the spoils are shared between the two teams.
EnginFirat’s Harambee Stars headed into the match on a backdrop of two successive losses to Group leaders Mali but soon found bliss courtesy of captain Michael Olunga.
The towering striker got onto the end of a Kenneth Muguna freekick to give Kenya the lead in the 61st minute.
The first goal of Firat’s reign.
But goalkeeper Brian Bwire’s howler in the dying minutes of the game denied Turk a first win as Kenyan head coach.
With a minute remaining to added time, Bwire delayed with the ball inside the six-yard which prompted a charging Fahad Bayo to nick the ball from him and score the equaliser.
The move was so suspicious that a section of netizens cast doubt on Bwire’s integrity, with some suggesting that the shot-stopper might have stage-managed the incident.
With the draw, Uganda boosted their chances of qualifying for a first-ever world cup.
Kenya on the other hand, are still looking for a first win under Firat and next face Rwanda in a dead rubber.
