Uganda End 41-Year Wait For AFCON Victory To Go Top Of Group A
22nd June 2019
The Cranes last won at the showcase of African football in March 1978, defeating Nigeria in a semi-final before losing the title decider to hosts Ghana

- Uganda ended a 41-year wait for an Africa Cup of Nations victory when they upset the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 Saturday in a Group A match in Cairo
- Uganda did not qualify again for the Cup of Nations until two years ago in Gabon when the best they managed in three group matches was a draw
- Uganda exposed poor defending by DR Congo at the Cairo International Stadium to score in each half through Patrick Kaddu and Emmanuel Okwi
CAIRO, Egypt-
Uganda ended a 41-year wait for an Africa Cup of Nations victory when they
upset the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 Saturday in a Group A match in
Cairo.
The Cranes last won
at the showcase of African football in March 1978, defeating Nigeria in a
semi-final before losing the title decider to hosts Ghana.
Uganda did not
qualify again for the Cup of Nations until two years ago in Gabon when the best
they managed in three group matches was a draw.
Uganda exposed poor
defending by DR Congo at the Cairo International Stadium to score in each half
through Patrick Kaddu and Emmanuel Okwi.
Winning by two goals
lifted Uganda to the top of the table, ahead of host nation Egypt on goal
difference.
The scene inside the
stadium was very different from the previous night when a 70,000 crowd watched
Egypt beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the tournament opener.
With the
mid-afternoon temperature 36 degrees celsius (97 fahrenheit), there were just a
few thousand spectators to witness the second match in the section.
Ahead of the
tournament, most pundits tipped record seven-time champions Egypt to top the
standings, leaving DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe in an intriguing scrap for
second place.
The six group
winners and runners-up are guaranteed round-of-16 places and will be joined by
the best four six third-place sides in a tournament expanded to 24 teams from
16 this year.
Uganda did not
resemble a team 31 places below DR Congo in the world rankings as they bossed
the early exchanges and deservedly went ahead on 14 minutes.
As a corner was
floated toward the goalmouth, Kaddu sprinted away from a marker and his
glancing near-post header flew past goalkeeper Ley Matampi.
It proved the only
goal of an opening half in which Uganda were hungrier to win and retain
possession than two-time champions DR Congo.
The Congolese
regularly struggled to deal with aerial threats during the opening 45 minutes
and this weakness was punished again as Uganda scored a second goal on 48
minutes.
A free-kick was
directed toward a crowd of players just inside the box and Okwi, facing away
from the goal, flicked the ball into the corner of the net.
Uganda could have
scored again just before the hour mark as a medium-range Farouk Miya free-kick
dipped belatedly and Matampi did well to flick the ball over the bar.
DR Congo coach
Florent Ibenge sensed changes were necessary to try and turn the tide and
Jonathan Bolingi and Jacques Maghoma were introduced.
Bolingi justified
his introduction by heading on to the top of the crossbar and over with 20
minutes left, the closest the Congolese came to a goal.