Uganda 0-1 Senegal
Senegal beat Uganda tonight at the Cairo International Stadium to take their place in the AFCON quarterfinals, but it was far from easy.
Sadio Mane scored the only goal of the game as the Lions of Teranga had to fight to the last against a determined opponent.
Uganda came to a halt as the passionate nation got behind its team, buoyed by the news that minnows Benin had just knocked out Morocco on penalties. And this game meant a lot to Senegal too, so much so that star striker Sadio Mane said he’d happily trade his Champions League medal with Liverpool for African Nations success.
I’m not sure what Liverpool fans will make of that…
The Africa Cup of Nations Uganda vs Senegal fixture was certainly one of high interest with a controversial run-up to the game and it appeared the Cranes were distracted to say the least. They seemingly boycotted Tuesday’s training session in Egypt in protest against allegedly unpaid fees from the Federation of Uganda Football Association.
But Mane warned his team-mates of the danger of Uganda, who recently impressed against Egypt. Head coach Sebastien Desabre has extracted the maximum from this team and they gave him a wholehearted display again tonight.
There was plenty of drama. Denis Onyango, the Cranes keeper, put in a bizarre performance, saving a penalty, but he should have been sent off twice as Uganda let Senegal know they were in a fight.
The Uganda vs Senegal betting odds suggested a rather more comfortable night, but while it was tense in the closing stages the Lions of Teranga saw the game out.
Highlights of the game
Uganda was unchanged, and Senegal had all their big guns back in the side, and the underdogs were determined to make their mark from the opening minute. Uganda keeper Onyango was lucky to stay on the pitch with an over-the-top challenge on Ismaila Sarr after just five minutes; but the referee was very lenient, handing out a yellow card. Check out the Uganda vs Senegal highlights… it was a shocker.
Uganda striker Emmanuel Okwi has two goals already in the competition, but he followed his team-mate into the book with a naughty elbow on Cheik Kouyate.
Senegal responded to the rough house tactics in the best way possible. Mane was on the end of a rapid move, and as the Uganda defence parted he fired low into the corner and beyond Onyango to make it 1-0. The Liverpool striker was on target twice as the Lions of Teranga savaged Kenya to reach the knockout phase, and this was just the start his team needed.
Uganda looked dangerous from set pieces and Okwi had a great chanced to equalise on 29 minutes, but he flashed his header wide.
Senegal had a golden opportunity to wrap up the game, shortly after half time, when Onyango put in another dreadful tackle to stop Mane. How on earth the Uganda keeper stayed on the pitch is beyond me. And when Mane stepped up to take the penalty Onyango made the save. Aliou Cisse and the Senegal bench couldn’t believe their eyes, and neither could I!
Senegal pressed for the second goal and Sarr had a shot charged down, but Uganda began to threaten more at the other end, Khalid Aucho got on the end of a knockdown from Okwi but fired his effort just wide. Then substitute Allan Kateregga tested Senegal keeper Alfred Gomis with a long-range free-kick.
But the Lions of Teranga stood firm and justice was done.
Key statistics
The pre-match SBOBET odds had Senegal to win at odds of 1.58, and it was never really in much doubt, though a second goal would have settled the favourites’ nerves.
It was a quiet first half with just three attempts on goal for each team, and the second half wasn’t much better in terms of shots, Uganda eventually winning the count by seven to five.
Mane has been clinical for Liverpool this season but has missed penalties in two consecutive games, though he did score the vital goal. A 1-0 Senegal win at 3.45 was by far the lowest odds on a score-line, though 2-0 at odds of 5.20 would have been the outcome had Onyango been sent off.
Senegal is unbeaten in four against Uganda, winning two and drawing two and Uganda has now gone six games with two goals or fewer.
What’s next?
So the quarter-finals beckon for Senegal and Uganda can go home to continue their dispute with the authorities.
Meanwhile, the action keeps on coming here at AFCON; and tomorrow there ‘s a clash of two big guns when Nigerian comes face to face with Cameroon, while hosts and favourites Egypt have a pretty straight forward task when they face South Africa.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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