18 June 2023 | Football

• AFCON Qualifiers 2023 | Sunday, June 18, 2023
• FT: Uganda 1-2 Algeria

Mohamed El Amoura’s brace reduced the chances of Uganda Cranes’ chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

That means it was a double completed by Algeria over Uganda at Japoma Stadium in Doula, Cameroon on Sunday.

The Cranes kicked off with a lot of urgency not giving much room to the 2019 AFCON champions as they preferred to play a long ball searching for Emmanuel Okwi.

Just after half an hour mark, Aziz Kayondo gave away a clear chance for Uganda to take the lead after going for power with room ahead of him only to see his effort sky above the frame.

Uganda kept knocking on the door with a brilliant interplay by Okwi and Rogers Mato but the run was blocked by Algeria’s defender.

Cranes lost possession in their half giving away the ball to Mohammed Amoura whose weak effort was calmly collected by custodian Salim Jamal.

Two minutes to the climax of the first stanza, Amoura gave the Desert Foxes the lead after capitalising on Salim’s blind pass, a mistake Uganda could easily avoid.

Just after the long break, Salim was brought into action making a stunning save to deny defender Ramy Bensebaini from close range.

In the first 10 minutes of the second stanza, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic made two changes introducing Richard Basangwa and Fahad Bayo for Milton Karisa and Bobosi Byaruhanga.

In the 63rd minute, Uganda was awarded a freekick in a good area and Okwi took the assignment but his effort went inches above the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Nabil Bantaleb and Riyad Mahrez combined to set up Amoura who doubled the lead hence widening the edge between the two sides.

Mato nearly created some magic but his powerful effort narrowly went wide before he threw his arms in the air.

Both Saidi Behrama and Islam Slimani came close but somehow missed to find the back of the net.

In the 87th minute, Bayo halved the deficit after tapping home Basangwa’s cross hence giving the home side a chance to restore parity.

The loss meant Algeria keep their perfect run alive with the fifth win in five games while Uganda suffer the third loss of the campaign.

Uganda is third on the group log with four points behind Tanzania second with seven points and Algeria at the summit with 15.

Uganda Cranes Starting XI: Jamal Salim Magoola (GK), Kenneth Ssemakula, Halid Lwaliwa, Gift Fred, Aziz Kayondo, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Okwi (C), Rogers Mato, Milton Karisa

Substitutes: Charles Lukwago (GK), Arionzi Nafian (GK), Geoffrey Wasswa, Rogers Torach, Siraje Ssentamu, Moses Waiswa, Isma Mugulusi, Travis Mutyaba, Fahad Bayo, Richard Basangwa

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