Rogers Mato Kassim scored the lone winner as Uganda edged neighbours Tanzania on a night The Cranes so desperately needed three points to keep their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification alive.

Tuesday night's contest in Dar es Salaam, interrupted for over 20 minutes before the break over a glitch in the lighting system, appeared on course for a share of spoils, but KCCA FC teenage forward Mato emerged to strike in stoppage time and offer the lifeline Milutin Sredojevic's visiting team so much desired — and needed.

As it stands after four games played, Algeria top Group F on a maximum 12 points, Tanzania and Uganda are on four points while Niger sit bottom of the log on two points.

Algeria's spotless campaign this far into the qualifiers and Tanzania's failure to capitalise on home soil left the race for the second qualification spot wide open and still within reach for the trailing three sides.

Two games are left to play.

Uganda's quest for a place in next year's finals in Ivory Coast has now been whittled down to its remaining share of fixtures: a home meeting with already-qualified group leaders Algeria in June and finally away against Niger in September.

Mato keeps Cranes in it

After a disappointing two defeats and a draw in their opening three matches of this latest AFCON qualification, Cranes coach Micho needed to find the much-needed spark to ignite a faltering campaign.

The Serbian tactician, who is on a second spell at the helm of Uganda's national side, will have breathed a huge sigh of relief upon seeing that late winner by Mato in the first of four added minutes late on.

The 19-year-old nearly completed his brace not long after, but either way, he had already hogged the plaudits as the hero in an important result for his team.

Joseph Ochaya had come close to finding the elusive opener earlier in the second half, but the Ugandan forward's header from a corner kick was kept out superbly in a game of chances at both ends.

Teammate Timothy Awany also squandered a chance to put the visitors in front five minutes before time.

On the other end, Tanzania's potency was fuelled by dangerman Simon Msuva, who scored the winner in the first leg as well as in the 2019 qualifiers, when the two nations had last met at this level.

Msuva offered Ugandan defender Aziz Kayondo plenty of work to do on the night but it was not to be for the Al-Qadsiah forward this time around.

His compatriot Mbwana Samatta, too, posed a lot of threat in the Ugandan final third, twice coming so close in front of Salim Magoola's goal.

A fault in the flood lights as half time approached forced Ivorian referee Ibrahim Traore to pause the action for over 20 minutes, before the technicians gave the match officials the green light after fixing the error.

Whatever effect the lengthy pause may have had on either set of players did not change the eventual scoreline at the break, with both teams returning to the dugout with plenty of talking to do.

At that point, it was the hosts in the driving seat, having enjoyed more of the ball and chances.

Micho introduced Mato in the place of captain Emmanuel Okwi and Fahad Bayo for Richard Basangwa just after the hour mark to inject some impetus into The Cranes' attacking force. Joseph Ochaya then gave way for Travis Mutyaba as a draw looked ever likely.

Shortly after Steven Mukwala and Farouk Miya joined the fray, Mato scored the all-important goal to send the Ugandan camp into celebrations.

Cranes' journey thus far

So far, Vipers SC forward Milton Karisa and Mato are the scorers of Uganda's two goals in this qualification campaign, which started last June with a 2-0 away defeat to Algeria. 

Four days after that loss, The Cranes were back in action — this time at home — against Niger, the contest ending in a 1-1 result at St Mary' Stadium.

The third group game for Uganda came four days ago in an East African derby against Tanzania, played in the Egyptian city of Ismailia. The location acted as Uganda's home after African football governing body CAF had deemed St Mary's Stadium unfit to host AFCON qualifiers following an inspection by its officials.

In that game, Taifa Stars edged their neighbours through Msuva's second-half lone goal to pick a vital three points that lifted them into second place of Group F.

Tuesday's conclusion of that double header not only restored parity for Uganda against their East African rivals, but it also ensured that The Cranes' quest for a return to Africa's biggest footballing stage remains on course.