AFCON 2019 Egypt
Sunday results
Zimbabwe 0-4 DRC
Uganda 0-2 Egypt
Burundi 0-2 Guinea
Madagascar 2-0 Nigeria
Monday fixtures (SS4/5, GoTV)
Angola vs Mali, 10pm
Mauritania vs Tunisia, 10pm
Benin vs Cameroon, 7pm
Guinea-Bissau vs Ghana, 7pm
Uganda progressed to the knockout stage of the 2019 AFCON as Group A runners up after their 2-0 loss to hosts Egypt on Sunday at the Cairo international stadium in the last group fixture.
Uganda Cranes Head Coach Sebastien Desabre made three changes from the team that drew 1-1 against Zimbabwe; with Patrick Kaddu, Bevis Mugabi and Ronald Mukiibi giving way for Allan Kyambadde, Nico Wadada and Timothy Awany respectively as the trio started their first game at the continental showpiece.
Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah opened the scoring with a superb free kick midway in the first half before Aston Villa’s Ahmed Elmohamady doubled the lead as the Pharaoh’s carried an unmerited 2-0 halftime lead.
Egypt, who maintained their perfect start to this year’s AFCON, progress as Group A to the last 16 with a perfect record having beaten Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening two games.
The 7-time record champions are also yet to concede in the tournament, but have luck to thank against dominant Uganda, who were left to rue the numerous missed chances.
Impressive Miya Farouk and Ema Okwi tested Egypt goalkeeper Mohammed El-Shenawy before Salah scored with his side’s first shot on target.
Abdu Lumala was also denied twice by El-Shanawy before Egyptian captain scored his second goal of the tournament off Ayman Ashraf cut-back towards halftime. Uganda, a better side on the night, continued to put pressure after the break and Miya went close twice while Okwi’s effort clipped outside with keeper beaten. Salah had Egypt’s best chance of second half but was denied by a fine one-handed save by Cranes skipper Denis Onyango.
Uganda Cranes combined physicality, positivity and good passing movement but Egypt’s piece of brilliance turned out the difference with the result not reflecting the real state of play.
Uganda, who meet Group C leaders at the next stage, will have to worry about Denis Onyango’s availability after the goalkeeper and the team’s best player was stretched off in the 70th minute unconscious and replaced by Robert Odongkarah who hardly got tested.
DRC whipped Zimbabwe 4-0 in the other group game on Sunday to confirm Uganda as group runners up, who progress to the knockout stage for the first time since 1978 when they lost at the final to Ghana. Two-time champions DRC and Zimbawe finish third and last respectively.
