Travis Mutyaba delivered a 45-minute playmaking master class to propel Uganda to a 1-0 half time lead over Algeria only to retreat onto the game’s periphery after the break as the Cranes succumbed to a 1-2 defeat in a 2026 World Cup qualifier played on Monday night at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
In a tale of two halves, Paul Put’s Cranes showed their best in an opening stanza in which the diminutive midfielder’s passing, dribbling and manipulation of space thrilled the 41,000 crowd that included First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Under correct tutelage, the 19-year-old Zamalek playmaker Mutyaba who opened the scoring under ten minutes should go on to equal or even surpass such exalted Cranes luminaries as Stephen Bogere, Jamil Kyambadde and Jackson Mayanja. Such is his potential.
But the night belonged to Vladimir Petkovic’s Desert Foxes who shook off their opening half lethargy to level the game within two minutes of the second half through Roma midfielder Hossem Auoar before sealing all three points through West Ham United star Said Benrahma who converted from close range after a rapid fire counterattack that left Cranes’ entire back four ‘eating grass’.
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Victory lifted Algeria to the summit of group G with 9 points, the same tally as Mozambique who trounced Guinea 1-0 thanks to a 94th minute penalty. In the other group game, Botswana bounced back from last Friday’s 0-1 setback away to Uganda by clobbering Somalia 3-1.
Monday night’s most significant result took place at the Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast where Benin who are ranked 65 places below Nigeria in world football governing body Fifa rankings upset the Super Eagles 2-1. Defeat left Finidi George’s side without a single win after four rounds of qualifiers.
Nigeria’s group C rivals could extend their advantage over the thrice former African champions if they win tonight. Group leaders Lesotho must overcome Rwanda at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa to maintain pole position ahead of South Africa who entertain Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloomfontein.
Four time African champions Ghana meanwhile took charge of their qualification destiny by outlasting Central African Republic 4-3 thanks to a hat trick from Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew. Victory lifted the Black Stars to the apex of group I with nine points, three more than Comoros who visit Chad today.
RESULTS
Uganda 1-2 Algeria,
Benin 2-1 Nigeria,
Guinea Bissau 1-1 Egypt,
Burkina Faso 2-2 Sierra Leone,
Eq Guinea 1-0 Malawi,
Ghana 4-3 Central African Rep,
Guinea v Mozambique 0-1,
Somalia 1-3 Botswana
TODAY
Lesotho v Rwanda,
South Sudan v Sudan,
Cape Verde v Libya,
Angola v Cameroon,
Mauritius v Eswatini,
Zambia v Tanzania,
Congo v Morocco,
Madagascar v Mali,
Chad v Comoros
