Joseph Aredo’s penalty in sudden death secured victory for hosts Uganda over Senegal to finish 5th at this year’s Rugby Africa Cup in the very entertaining fifth-place final at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Sunday, July 28.
After the game had finished level in both normal time and extra time with scores of 23-23 and 31-31 respectively, the nail-biting encounter went into a sudden death period in which Aredo’s penalty settled matters.
Uganda, determined to end their Rugby Africa Cup campaign on a high after a narrow opening day loss to Zimbabwe that ensured they could at most finish fifth, faced fierce competition from Senegal but ultimately edged them.
The Rugby Cranes were missing their star player, Philip Wokorach, who was sidelined due to injury.
Despite his absence from the 23-man line-up, the team was bolstered by strong performances from players like Captain Ivan Magomu, Joseph Aredo, Timothy Kisiga, Alex Aturinda and debutant Arnold Ocen.
The game began with Captain Magomu breaking the deadlock with an early penalty, putting Uganda 3-0 ahead in the 7th minute.
However, Senegal quickly responded with a try by Mamadou Ndiaye, followed by a successful conversion, taking the lead at 7-3.
They further extended their advantage with another penalty shortly after, making it 10-3 by the 21st minute.
Magomu’s second penalty 6 minutes later brought Uganda closer at 10-6, but Senegal’s Allasane Sagna capitalised on a defensive lapse to score another try, with the conversion extending their lead to 17-6 in minute 30.
Just before halftime, Uganda’s Alex Aturinda powered through Senegal’s defence to score a try, with a successful conversion narrowing the score to 17-13 at the break.
Senegal started the second half with a penalty, increasing their lead to 20-13, and another penalty in the 61st minute saw them extend the gap further to 23-13.
Uganda’s response came in just 4 minutes later, with a debut try from Arnold Ocen, narrowing the score to 23-20 after a successful conversion.
Captain Ivan Magomu then converted a penalty with 8 minutes to go and levelled the match at 23-23, pushing the game into extra time.
Five minutes into the extra time, Magomu left Aredo to take Uganda’s penalty, and the latter gave Uganda a temporary lead at 26-23, but Senegal quickly matched it with a penalty of their own, levelling the score again at 26-26 in minute 88.
Timothy Kisiga’s try in the second half of extra time saw Uganda leading 31-26, but Senegal equalised with a late try, sending the match into the sudden death period.
Uganda then earned a crucial penalty.
Amid high tension, Captain Magomu handed the responsibility to Joseph Aredo, who confidently converted the penalty, sealing a 34-31 victory for Uganda.
The stadium erupted in celebration, with Aredo’s mother, Deborah Sifuna Mileke, proudly cheering on his last-born son from the stands.
This victory ensured Uganda’s 5th place finish in the tournament, a fitting end to their campaign, while Senegal’s loss means they finish 6th.
Earlier in the day, Ivory Coast secured a seventh-place finish by defeating Burkina Faso 23-10, with the latter being relegated from the tournament.
Despite not clinching this year’s Rugby Africa Cup title, Uganda’s performance has been a source of immense pride and joy for the nation, and hopes are high for continued success in future tournaments.
