AFCON Qualifiers Group F
Sunday Results:
•Tanzania 1-0 Niger
•Uganda 1-2 Algeria
September 4
•Niger Vs Uganda
•Algeria Vs Tanzania
Table:
- Algeria 🇩🇿 – 15
- Tanzania 🇹🇿 – 7
- Uganda 🇺🇬 – 4
- Niger 🇳🇪 – 2
Uganda Cranes chances of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations suffered another blow after defeat to Algeria.
The Cranes, hosting at Japoma Stadium in Cameroon, were beaten by Algeria 2-1.
Fahad Bayo’s goal proved too late and not enough to rescue Micho’s charges in an abysmal show.
Mohamed Amoura bagged a brace, including an opener which came in form of a gift from Cranes Goalkeeper Salim Jamal Magoola.
Jamal misplaced a pass which was picked by Haris Belkebra, whose shot was spilled by the Richards Bay goalkeeper, and Amoura reacted the quickest to bundle home.
Amoura later benefited from the quality of substitutes Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb who combined to pick at the far end before slotting into an unguarded net in the second half.
Bayo, off the bench, was at the end of Richard Basangwa’s good cross to poke in one for Cranes that proved a consolation.
The defeat, third for Cranes in the campaign, leaves the side in third place, but three points below Tanzania who brat Niger in Dar Es Salaam.
And the qualification chances are out of Cranes hands as the side will have ears in Algeria Vs Tanzania match when they face Niger in the last game in September.
It’s same old story for Cranes who will need to beat Niger and also hope that Algeria beat Tanzania, to qualify for AFCON finals next year in Ivory Coast.
Huge Scrutiny Awaits
FUFA President Moses Magogo backed Uganda Cranes coach Milutin Micho Sredojovich after huge roar from fans following the mixed results from the double-header against Tanzania in March.
There remained hope then after Rogers Mato’s late strike handed the Cranes a 1-0 win, and put the side level on points with the Taifa Stars.
But after defeat in Doula, the qualification permutations look completely out of Cranes reach.
And a lot of questions will be asked on a couple of decisions that were made before and during the game.
But Coach Micho will face the loudest music, especially from the fans after the gaffer decided to stick with old guns in Emmanuel Okwi and Farouk Miya who proved pedestrians throughout the contest.
Algeria had showed a little bit of mercy if we are to go with their starting XI they put up, leaving a couple of stars including Riyad Mahrez on the bench.
But the Cranes remained on the back foot as the Desert Foxes enjoyed more possession.
Aziz Kayondo and Rogers Mato both came close, but Cranes chances were rare in a contest they needed more than the ‘Visitors’ who had already qualified.
Jamal should have done better on the first goal after a blunder, but he was outstanding from thereafter including making a good intervention to deny Ramy Bensabaini.
The second goal, unlike the first, was utter brilliance from the Desert Foxes after the introduction of Mahrez, and the Cranes defence was turned in and out before conceding.
There was less to admire from the Cranes who showed less desire in going forward, and when Bayo brought one back, it proved a little too late to stage a comeback.
The blame on the team shouldn’t be huge given that they lacked that 12th player as they played at a neutral venue.
And the decision to take the game far away in Cameroon failed to bear fruits at the end.
One will feel it could have been a different story if Namboole was finished on time as earlier promised by the Sports Minister Peter Ogwang, and the blame game should now start.
The last game away against Niger is two months away, and it remains to be seen which decisions will be taken, especially in Technical team, will be taken until then.
Lineups
Uganda – Salim Jamal, Kenneth Ssemakula, Aziz Kayondo, Gift Fred, Halid Lwaliwa, Khalid Aucho, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Farouk Miya, Milton Karisa, Rogers Mato, Emmanuel Okwi
Algeria – Anthony Mandrea, Haithem Loucif, Zinedine Belaid, Ramy Bensabaini, Jaouen Hadjam, Oussama Chita, Himad Abdelli, Haris Belkebla, Badredine Bouanani, Mohamed Amoura, Aymen Mahious
