Uganda suffered a 2-1 defeat to Algeria in the penultimate round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon on Sunday.
Striker Mohamed Amoura scored a brace for the Desert Foxes while the Cranes’ goal came from second-half substitute Fahad Bayo. The first period saw the Cranes put up a resilient performance and marched the visitors for long spells.
Amoura found the opener for Algeria in the 42nd minute to give the visitors a confidence-boosting lead ahead of the break. Uganda tried to get back into the game after the break but found a highly alert goalkeeper, Anthony Mandrea who kept them at bay.
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At the start of the second half, Uganda coach Milutin Sredojevic called for changes introducing Bayo and Richard Bassangwa for Bobosi Byaruhanga and Milton Karisa respectively. There were further changes with Isma Mugulusi and Travis Mutyaba coming on in place of Farouk Miya and Emmanuel Okwi respectively.
Algeria doubled their lead in the 67th minute off a quick counter-attack and Amoura was once again well placed to tap the ball into the back of the net. With a minute to the end of the game, Bayo got Uganda’s goal of the day after a good pass from Bassangwa.
The outcome leaves Uganda in third place with four points. Algeria remains top with 15 while Tanzania and Niger have seven and two respectively. Uganda’s final group game will come away to Niger in September 4 and the Cranes will need to win and hope Tanzania suffers defeat to Algeria to stand a chance of qualifying.