Perhaps psychologically buoyed by their strong record across the previous 20 H2Hs (W12, D4, L4), Uganda were actually the better team in the first half, as Allan Okello came close when his strike was parried away by Zuberi Foba.
The goalkeeper could not reach Rogers Mato’s header, but unfortunately for the Cranes, the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.
Tanzania rarely threatened and failed to record a shot on target before the break, as Feisal Salum, Novatus Miroshi and Kelvin John were all wayward with their respective efforts.
The Taifa Stars did up their game in the second half though, as Simon Msuva’s shot deflected just wide, before they won a penalty when Baba Alhassan handled Alphonce Msanga’s strike. Msuva stepped up and wrongfooted Denis Onyango to find the roof of the net.
This was a good omen for Tanzania, who were unbeaten in each of the Al-Talaba's previous 13 goalscoring internationals (W8, D5).
But their work was far from done, and as Uganda fought for an equaliser in the latter stages, they finally found one when Denis Omedi’s cross found fellow substitute Uche Ikpeazu, who produced a diving header to salvage a potentially crucial point.
The Cranes then had a golden chance to steal the points in stoppage time, but Okello blazed a penalty horribly over in dramatic fashion. Both teams are still alive in Group C as a result, but Tanzania’s winless run now stretches to nine matches, while Uganda will ponder over what could have been.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Uche Ikpeazu (Uganda)