The Tunisian national team, led by coach Mouine Chaabani, hosted Uganda in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 25, 2026. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Tunisia taking an early lead through Adem Arous in the 12th minute. Aymen Dahmen, the Tunisian goalkeeper, was not seriously tested until the final minutes of the game. The team's performance was marked by a strong first half, but a lack of cohesion in the second half.
Tunisia started strongly, with Khalil Ayari delivering a corner kick that Arous headed home for the opening goal. The team continued to press, seeking to add to their lead. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane had a chance to double the lead in the 24th minute, but his header was comfortably saved by Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango. Ismael Gharbi also had a chance to score from a free kick, but his shot crashed off the post in the 31st minute.
Despite their dominance in the first half, Tunisia failed to add to their lead. Chaabani made two changes at halftime, bringing on Sadok Kadida and Saifallah Ltaief to replace Rayan Elloumi and Ayari. The changes brought fresh energy to the team, but Tunisia's attackers struggled to create clear chances in the final third. The team's possession-based game did not yield the desired results, and they were ultimately punished for their lack of cutting edge.
Uganda equalized in the 68th minute through Rogers Mato, who beat the Tunisian defense to score the leveling goal. The goal came against the run of play, and it gave Uganda a foothold in the game. Tunisia pushed hard for a winner, but their efforts were in vain. Hamza Rafia had a late chance to snatch a win, but his powerful shot was saved by Onyango.
The draw was a disappointing result for Tunisia, who had been expected to win comfortably. The team had a strong first half, but their performance tailed off in the second half. The draw leaves Tunisia with a single point from their opening game in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The team's coach, Chaabani, will be looking to regroup and assess his team's performance ahead of their next game.
The match was marked by some notable performances from individual players. Aymen Dahmen was solid in goal for Tunisia, while Denis Onyango made some crucial saves for Uganda. Rogers Mato's goal was a turning point in the game, and it gave Uganda a chance to build on their momentum.
The final score was a fair reflection of the game, with both teams creating chances but ultimately settling for a draw. Tunisia will look to improve their performance in their next game, while Uganda will be buoyed by their ability to come from behind and earn a point. The two teams will meet again in the return fixture, which is scheduled for later this year.
Key points
- Tunisia took an early lead through Adem Arous but failed to add to their advantage.
- Uganda equalized in the 68th minute through Rogers Mato.
- The draw leaves Tunisia with a single point from their opening game in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
