29 July 2024 | More Sports

Uganda Rugby Cranes settled for fifth place in the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup after edging Senegal 34-31 in a nail-biting encounter played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The decisive Sunday afternoon moment came when Joseph Aredo successfully converted a sudden death penalty after normal time had ended 23-23 and Extra Time 31-31.

Ivan Magomu gave Uganda the lead with a penalty but Senegal benefitted from Aredo's kick that was intercepted for a touchdown under the posts and would stretch the lead to 10-03 before Magomu responded to make it a four-point game. However, Senegal scored a try shortly after the restart to take the lead to 17-06

Alex Aturinda grounded from the back of the scrum and Magomu converted to cut the deficit to 3 points (17-13) by halftime.

Senegal stretched the lead with two penalties to start the second half before Byron Oketayot broke the line to set up debutant Arnold Ocen to touchdown under the posts with Magomu converting and following it up with a penalty to level the score.

Magomu would miss a match-winning penalty and the game went into extra time. The skipper missed the first kickoff extra time and Uganda changed the kicker with Joseph Aredo taking over the duties. The makeshift centre converted his first kick and Senegal responded in equal measure.

Timothy Kisiga scored for Uganda at the start of the second half of extra time but Uganda's defence couldn't hold for eight minutes as Senegal scored a try and nearly won the game but the conversion hit the uprights.

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