It was a heartbreaking night for the Uganda Cranes as they fell 2-1 to the visiting Algerian side at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Monday, 10th June.
In front of a passionate home crowd, the national team got off to a dream start when star forward Travis Mutyaba fired them into the lead in the 10th minute. The home fans erupted in celebration as their side took an early advantage.
The later minutes of the first half saw the Desert foxes exert pressure but the Cranes did well to soak it up, with goalkeeper Isima Watenga and defender Elio Capradossi producing vital interventions to preserve the lead.
Rogers Mato went close to doubling the advantage but his left-foot shot was saved Algeria goalkeeper Anthony Manderera in the 44th minute. The first ended 1-0 in favour of Uganda.
However, the visitors struck back almost immediately after the restart, with Aouar Houssem finding the net from an acute angle to level the scores in the 47th minute.
The Cranes felt they should have been awarded a penalty soon after when Mato was brought down in the 52nd minute, but the Beninese referee waved away their appeals.
The turning point of the game came in the 59th minute when a costly mistake by Kenneth Ssemakula allowed Saidi Benrahma to score and put Algeria ahead.
Despite desperate efforts from the Cranes to find an equaliser, the visitors held on to secure all three points.
The loss will be a bitter pill to swallow for the home side, who had looked in control for large parts of the game.
The passionate Ugandan supporters did their best to rally their team, but in the end, the clinical finishing of the Algerians proved to be the difference.
The visitors will be delighted to have secured a hard-fought victory on Ugandan soil to maintain their perfect start to the campaign.
They now go top of Group G with 9 points, and Uganda Cranes are now 3 point them with 6 points out of 5 games.
