The ball off Ugandan prodigal Faruku Miya’s boot on September 4th 2016 as The Cranes brushed aside Comoros on Sunday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in 38 years, and his strike today on a waterlogged pitch smashed in Uganda’s first Afcon goal since 1978.
The Standard Liege forward received Denis Iguma’s pass and took one touch before rifling an unstoppable effort past Sissoko from the edge of the area.
Mali then produced an even better response three minutes later, Bissouma unleashing a magnificent free-kick from 30 yards into the top corner, leaving Odongkara rooted to his spot.
Uganda had earlier thought they had opened the scoring, but the assistant’s offside flag was raised after Khalid Aucho’s shot deflected in off Kizito, who had strayed past the last defender.
But Uganda were not to be denied and they soon took the lead in stunning fashion, scoring with the match’s first shot on target after 70 minutes.
There were no major chances for a winner, though, and both nations will watch the rest of the competition from home.
Alain Giresse’s Mali side needed to win to have a chance of making the last eight, but would have been eliminated anyway because of Egypt’s victory over Ghana.
Egypt’s 1-0 win over Ghana means they qualify as group winners, with Ghana – who were already assured of a quarter-final place – going through as runners-up.
Ghana play DR Congo in the last eight, while Egypt go on to play Morocco.
