Hosts Egypt ended their Group A assignments at the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations with maximum points after defeating Uganda 2-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.
Egypt’s Pharaohs, already qualified before the game guaranteed the group top spot in grand style, winning all three matches of their group phase campaign.
Superstar Mohamed Salah and skipper Ahmed Elmohamady scored in the opening half final 10 minutes to give Egypt victory that guaranteed the top spot for the hosts.
Egypt will now wait to see which country will claims the spot for one of the qualified third teams (groups C, D or E) in the next round.
Meanwhile, Uganda qualified to the round of 16, finishing the group in second place, one point more than DR Congo who defeated Zimbabwe 4-0. Congo’s Leopards will now wait to see if they can grab one of the four places for the third-placed teams.
Egypt started the match on an attacking note. The game’s first scoring attempt emerged when Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan tried to go through Uganda’s defence but couldn’t control the ball.
When the momentum shifted to Uganda’s side they held the upper hand and Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy proved to be Egypt’s man to thank in several occasions. Emanuel Okwi’s shot was destined to give The Cranes the lead after 13 minutes but found the safe hands of Elshenawy, who again saved the Pharaohs later, in the 24th minute.
Egypt was forced to do an early substitution after 24 minutes when forward Ahmed Hassan ‘Koka’ was injured. His place was taken by Marwan Mohsen.
Elshenawy once again saved the hosts after 28 minutes when he stopped Allan Kyambadde’s shot at close range. The same fate was there again three minutes later when Al Ahly goalkeeper deflected Kyambadde’s shot for a corner kick.
And against the run of play, Egypt took the lead after 36 minutes. From a free-kick, Salah produced his magic once again to give The Pharaohs the lead with Uganda’s goalkeeper and captain Denis Onyango completely beaten.
Two minutes ahead of the break Elshenawy returned to be Egypt’s hero after he sent a curling shot past a hapless Onyango.
Uganda started the second half trying to reduce the deficit Farouk Miya could have scored after 55 minutes but his shot missed the target.
Uganda had to deal with a huge blow when Onyango was injured 20 minutes before the end of the match.
Both teams appear to be satisfied with the result which saw Egypt ending the group with the maximum points, while Uganda reached the knockout stages for the first time since 1978.
The Total Man of the Match award went to Elmohamady of Egypt.
In partnership with ANA and Mediapix.
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