Salah sets up Egypt win over Uganda who reach last 16

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah produced another moment to savour when he curled in a free kick, his second goal of the tournament, to set the hosts on the way to a 2-0 win over an unlucky Uganda who still made the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action with Uganda's Faruku Miya - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Uganda v Egypt - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action with Uganda's Faruku Miya - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Uganda v Egypt - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt, already qualified, topped Group A with a 100% record from three games and no goals conceded while Uganda, despite the defeat, qualified for the knockout stages for only the second time and the first since 1978.

The Cranes, who have four points, were given a helping hand by Democratic Republic of Congo, who thumped Zimbabwe 4-0 to finish third with three while Zimbabwe finished last with one.

Uganda were the better side for long periods but the game at Cairo stadium was effectively settled in a nine-minute spell before halftime when Salah and then Ahmed Elmohamady scored.

Egypt broke the deadlock when they won a free kick 25 metres out and Liverpool’s Salah curled his effort over the wall and into the bottom corner to send the stadium into raptures.

Mahmoud Trezeguet set up the second goal when he charged down the left and, although his cross evaded Salah, Elmohamady collected the ball and drove it into the net.

Until then little went right for Salah as his team mates’ attempts to find him with through balls invariably failed.

Uganda strung together some delightful passing moves, with Farouk Miya at the centre of most of them, and troubled the hosts with their pace down the flanks.

Allan Kyambadde, in particular, was a constant menace and almost caught out Mohamed El Shenawy with a dipping shot which the Egypt goalkeeper managed to tip over.

El Shenawy also had to make a double save from Lamula Abdu, first blocking the Ugandan’s shot from a difficult angle and then saving his header from the rebound.

Uganda continued to press in the second half without success.

Miya had a dangerous effort deflected over by a defender, then curled a free kick onto the roof of the net while Egypt defender Ayman Ashraf nearly turned Khalid Aucho’s low cross into his own net.

Madagascar continued writing their beautiful story at the Africa Cup of Nations, remaining unbeaten in the group stage matches to finish on seven points. (Photo: cafonline.com)

Earlier the same day, Madagascar pulled off one of the great shocks of the Africa Cup of Nations finals when they upset Nigeria 2-0 to finish top of Group B and advance to the knockout stages.

A horrific defensive mistake and a wicked deflection from a free kick allowed the Indian Ocean islanders, making their tournament debut, to finish unbeaten ahead of both Nigeria and Guinea in the standings.

Lalaina Nomenjanahary took advantage of sloppy defending by Leon Balogun to open the scoring in the 13th minute and Carolus Andriamahitsinoro netted the second eight minutes into the second half.

Nigeria, one of the five African teams at last year’s World Cup, had won their opening two matches but looked flat and proved unable to respond after going behind in their third and face extensive soul searching after an embarrassing setback.

Reuters