adminKAMPALA. — Uganda stunned Egypt 1-0 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification, Group E soccer match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala yesterday.
The victory takes Uganda to the top of Group E standings with seven points, while Egypt slip down to the second spot ahead of the return leg which will be played in Alexandria next week Tuesday.
The Cranes were the better side in the first 15 minutes of the encounter as they pressed the Pharaohs and Uganda should have taken the lead.
But Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary produced a finger-tipping save to deny Uganda’s lively winger Emmanuel Okwi, whose cross was goal-bound in the 13th minute.
The hosts had another chance to break the deadlock a minute later following a mix-up between Egypt central defender Ahmed Hegazi and his teammate El-Hadary.
However, the Cranes were unable to capitalise and the Pharaohs survived a scare as the home side pushed for the opening goal in front of their vocal supporters.
The pressure mounted on the Egyptian defence after the half-hour mark and Okwi forced El-Hadary into a great low save after the visitors’ backline was exposed. — AFP.
Online Reporter