Mozambique bolstered their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a decisive 3-1 victory over Uganda at the Cairo International Stadium. The win places Mozambique at the top of Group G with 12 points, while Uganda’s qualification hopes suffered another setback as they remain in second-last place with just 6 points.
Early Drama Sets the Tone
The match began at a high tempo, with Mozambique taking the lead just four minutes into the game. Pepo’s direct corner kick caught Uganda’s goalkeeper, Isma Watenga, off guard, finding the back of the net to give his side an early advantage.
Uganda responded swiftly, equalizing in the ninth minute through Muhammad Shaban, who clinically finished past the Mozambican goalkeeper to level the score at 1-1. However, Mozambique regained their lead in the 15th minute when Pepo capitalized on another mistake from Watenga, making it 2-1.
Uganda Reduced to 10 Men, Mozambique Seals the Win
Uganda’s challenge intensified in the 36th minute when striker Denis Omedi received his second yellow card and was sent off, leaving the Cranes with ten men. Mozambique took full advantage of their numerical superiority, adding a third goal just before halftime through Tanley Ratifo.
Second-Half Efforts Fall Short for Uganda
In an attempt to salvage the game, Uganda’s head coach Paul Put replaced Watenga with Alionzi at the start of the second half. The Cranes came close to narrowing the deficit in the 60th minute when Seemugabi’s powerful shot struck the crossbar, but Mozambique managed the game effectively, maintaining possession and making key substitutions to see out the victory comfortably.
Qualification Standings and Uganda’s Next Fixture
The win strengthens Mozambique’s position in Group G as they move to 12 points, while Uganda faces a daunting task to recover, sitting near the bottom with 6 points. The Cranes will have an opportunity to bounce back when they host Guinea at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole on Tuesday.
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