It was a sheer heartbreak for the Uganda Cranes after a last minute goal from El Said gave Egypt an important win and knocks Uganda out of the tournament. Joseph Ochaya earlier had a goal correctly disallowed for offside.
Uganda’s fate was to be sealed with Ghana’s earlier win over Mali, the Cranes have been mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the quarterfinals, while Egypt have moved to second place with four points and are well placed to join the Black Stars in the next round.
The Cranes began the second half brightly, forcing veteran Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary to punch several set-pieces clear but ultimately failed to register a shot on target as Ochaya turned in Faruku Miya’s through ball from a clearly offside position on 52 minutes.
An explosive game that looked destined to end in a goalless stalemate, but in the 89th minute Uganda’s defence finally crumbled and Mohamed Salah was able to tee up Said, who arrived late to power a low shot through the goalkeeper’s legs and seal a late victory for the Pharaohs.
Uganda Cranes coach Milutin Sredojević said after the loss; “If someone beat you comprehensively, you accept. But if small detail decide the game, it is hard to accept.”
Group D will wrap up with simultaneous matches on Wednesday night: Egypt will face Ghana in Port-Gentil, while Mali will tackle Uganda in Oyem.
Egypt: Essam El Hadary, Ahmed Hegazy, Ali Gabr, Mohammed Abdel Shafi, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Elneny, Ramadan Sobhi (Amr Warda 66′), Mahmoud Hassan (Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim 80′), Tarek Hamed (Abdallah Said 59′), Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen
Uganda: Dennis Onyango, Joseph Ochaya, Murushid Juuko, Godfrey Walusimbi, Denis Iguma (Moses Oloya 90+1’), Hassan Wasswa, Farouk Miya (Nicholas Wadada 81′), Khalid Aucho, Geoffrey Kizito, Tony Mawejje, Geoffrey Massa (Muhammad Shaban 65′)
