AFCON 2021 QUALIFICATION

Group B Monday results:

South Sudan 1-0 Uganda

Malawi 0-0 Burkina Faso

________________________________________

NAIROBI – Ten-man Uganda Cranes conceded a first goal of their AFCON 2021 qualification campaign when a brief period of first-half madness at the back saw them reduced in personnel and concede a penalty, ultimately surrendering three points to South Sudan, who were also later reduced to 10 men.

Khalid Aucho’s dismissal a little over the half-hour mark at Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi provided some questions for Johnathan McKinstry’s men, who were the pre-match favourites, but the affairs on the pitch soon turned topsy-turvy.

Before The Cranes could come to terms with their numerical disadvantage, they gifted the hosts of the day with a penalty, which Gor Mahia forward Tito Okello stepped forward to convert past Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango.

The Bright Stars held on to their slim lead to see out the opening half, taking a vital advantage to the break.

Following a forgettable first half, Emmanuel Okwi’s introduction in the second half added much needed impetus and bite in The Cranes’ attacking force.

In fact, during one of the visitors spirited push for a leveler after the interval, the Ugandan forward even had the ball in the back of the net, only for the raised offside flag to snuff out any attempts at Ugandan celebrations.

Moments later, Okwi linked well with Farouq Miya, but failed to beat South Sudan keeper Majak Maling, who had a bright day in goal.

Miya then tested Maling, but his fierce effort only rattled the crossbar, doing well to pile even more pressure on McKinstry’s side, as a game that was seemingly easy for them on paper turned into a nightmarish scramble to salvage at least a point.

The hosts were also reduced to 10 men, but they held on to bag their first points of the campaign and at the same time subject their more illlustrious Ugandan group rivals to a particularly rare defeat against them – and their first of this qualification drive.

The Cranes came into this early-week duel joint-group leaders with Burkina Faso after all teams, including Malawi, each playing three games.

Uganda kicked off this qualification campaign with a goalless draw against Burkina Faso, before securing successive wins against Malawi (2-0) and South Sudan (1-0).

It remains an open group – with two games left – after Burkina Faso were held to a goalless draw by Malawi also on Monday.

It means that Burkina Faso are at the summit on eight (8) points, Uganda in second on seven (7), Malawi in third on four (4) while South Sudan, after giving themselves something to hold on to, anchor Group B on three points.

The remaining rounds of matches will be played in late March next year.