AFCON 2019 - Uganda qualify to knockout stage -

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS EGYPT 2019

The Uganda Cranes are into the knockout stage despite losing 2-0 to Egypt.

Wishing Cranes first-choice goalkeeper Denis Onyango and other injured players a swift recovery.

Despite losing against The Pharaohs, The Uganda Cranes have progressed to the knockout stage, after finishing second in Group A, for the first time in 41 years.

Mohamed Salah and co, meanwhile, have registered a clean sweep in the group stage, bagging all the nine points on offer.

Mohamed Salah is clean through — with only keeper to beat.

The Liverpool star, eyeing a third goal of the campaign and second of the night, tries to curl the ball around Denis Onyango, but the lanky Ugandan keeper comes out all guns blazing and stretches his right hand out to block the effort, spilling the ball to an Egyptian player, who tries to dink the ball into the half-guarded goal.

It is deep in stoppage time and the hosts want a third goal to add gloss to the scoreline. Great defending by The Cranes rids Robert Ondongkara’s box of the danger.

The ball falls back to The Pharaohs, who thread it back to Mohamed Salah, but the star striker can’t get to the ball in time.Zimbabwe 0 DR Congo 4

Florent Ibenge’s men had one last trick up their sleeves, I must say. And how timely it was!

After suffering defeat against Uganda and Egypt in their first two games, DR Congo have clawed themselves back into contention for a place in the knockout stage with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over a hapless Zimbabwe.

There are four places up for grabs for the best top-three finishers across the six groups. With Sunday night’s performance, The Leopards have placed themselves in the thick of this contest.