One-shot at goal is all Sadio Mane and Senegal needed to go past the Cranes and qualify for the last eight of the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations on Friday Night at Cairo International Stadium.
Cranes came into this fixture with just one serious training session under their sleeves since their 2-0 loss to Egypt on Sunday, June 30th.
And it was visible on the field, inside seven minutes, Denis Onyango and Emmanuel Okwi had seen yellow for fouls on Ismaila Sarr and Cheikhou Kouyate respectively.
It didn’t take long before Uganda were down, Godfrey Walusimbi lost possession at a time Hassan Wasswa and Murushid Juuko had also switched off.
Mane was left with Onyango to beat; the Liverpool man made the opportunity count with a ground shot with his left foot, 1-0 Senegal led, Wasswa suffered cramped after the goal and he was replaced by Timothy Awany.
Okwi came close in the 22nd minute with a volleyball at the edge of the box but Senegal’s Alfred Amigo punched it out for safety.
Lumala was as silent as the handful of Cranes fans watching from the stand, Lamine Gassama kept him under wraps at all time.
Striker Patrick Kaddu who also struggled against Kouyate and Kalidou Koulibaly was replaced by Allan Kyambadde after 58 minutes.
At the hour mark, Onyango fouled Mane in the forbidden, a bookable offence it was but Algerian referee Mustafa Ghorbal was lenient and the shot-stopper stayed.
Mane took responsibility from 12 yards, he chose his side, Onyango guessed right too and dived on his left to punch the former’s effort out for a corner.
It was the second time Mane was missing from 12 yards on the continent, the other was against Kenya in the group stages.
Uganda were still in it, all they needed was a breakthrough, Allan Kateregga replaced Khalid Aucho with 12 minutes left on the clock, his first impact was a 27-yard freekick that was saved by Amigo.
At the end of it all, the Cranes gave their all, but Senegal had done enough to keep their lead and advance to the last eight where they will meet Benin who defeated Morocco 4-1 on penalties after normal time ended 1-1.
Uganda’s Starting XI: Denis Onyango, Bevis Mugabi, Godfrey Walusimbi, Murushid Juuko, Hassan Wasswa (Timothy Awany), Mike Azira, Khalid Aucho (Allan Kateregga), Miya Faruku, Emmanuel Okwi, Abdu Lumala, Patrick Kaddu (Allan Kyambadde)
Unused Subs: Robert Odongkara, Omar Salim Magoola, Joseph Ochaya, Taddeo Lwanga, Kizito Luwagga, Derrick Nsibambi, Ronald Mukiibi, Nicholas Wadada, Isaac Muleme
