Senegal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Uganda in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Round of 16 match at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Friday.
The victory saw the Lions of Teranga progress to the quarterfinals where they will face Benin on Wednesday, while the Cranes bowed out of the competition.
The Cranes contained the Lions of Teranga in the opening exchanges, but they conceded fouls that saw Denis Onyango and Emmanuel Okwi being booked very early.
Senegal piled pressure on the Uganda defence and Aliou Cisse’s men managed to break the deadlock 15 minutes into the encounter.
Mbaye Niang’s low pass sent Sadio Mane through on goal and the Liverpool FC forward fired past on-rushing goalkeeper Onyango to make it 1-0 to Senegal.
Uganda tried to respond with a goal when Okwi unleashed a thunderous shot which was parried away by Senegal shot-stopper Alfred Gomis in the 23rd minute.
The Cranes created chances, but they were wasteful as Okwi missed the target with a header just before the half-hour mark.
Farouk Miya then played a dangerous curling free-kick into the Senegal box, but his Uganda teammates failed to make contact with the ball.
The score was 1-0 to Senegal at the interval with Uganda having failed to convert their chances.
The two teams attacked each other in the early stages of the second-half and the Lions of Teranga were awarded a penalty after Mane was fouled by Onyango into the box just before the hour-mark.
However, Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper Onyango made amends as he denied Mane from the spot-kick with the Senegal vice-captain missing his second penalty in the tournament.
The Senegal defence which was marshalled by Kalidou Koulibaly looked solid and Mike Azira tried his luck from range in the 71st minute, but the Ugandan midfielder’s effort missed the target.
Allan Kateregga was introduced by Cranes coach Sebastien Desabre with 13 minutes left and he tried to make an immediate impact, but his free-kick was parried away by Gomis.
Senegal were able to hold onto their slender lead in the closing stages of the match and ultimately, they ran out 1-0 winners over Uganda on the night.
Uganda (0) 0
Senegal (1) 1 (Mane 15′)
Uganda: Onyango, Mugabi, Juuko, Wasswa (Awanyi 18′), Walusimbi, Abdu, Miya, Azira, Aucho (Kateregga 77′), Okwi, Kaddu (Kyambadde 57′).
Senegal: Gomis, Gassama, Koulibaly, Kouyate, Sabaly, Gueye, Badou N’Diaye, Mane, Sarr (Balde 81′), Saivet (Diatta 69′), Niang (Diagne 85′).
Source: SuperSport
