Uganda have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years after beating Comoros 1-0.
In front of a packed crowd at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Joseph Ochaya hit the post from close range just before the half-hour mark as Uganda pressed for a breakthrough.
The game’s decisive moment arrived after 35 minutes, when Moses Oloya provided the assist for Standard Liege striker Farouk Miya to score.
Milutin Sredojevic’s side held out for the victory, the result ensuring they finished second in qualifying Group D with 13 points.
Burkina Faso, who topped the group after their 2-1 win over Botswana, also finished with 13 points, but claimed first place by virtue of their head-to- head record against Uganda.
The Cranes qualified as one of the two best group runners-up and will travel to Gabon next year to make their first appearance at the finals of the tournament since 1978.
This is it. The clear meaning of a nation back to dine with the football big wigs after 39 years. pic.twitter.com/K3CQ6itQL2
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) September 4, 2016
Guinea-Bissau, from where Portugal’s Eder has heritage, are a new name to the list of teams involved with the nation set to make their first outing at the competition in their history.
The Dijurtus, who are currently ranked 75th in the FIFA World Rankings, picked up ten points from their six qualifying matches in Group E to secure top spot and earn a place at their first ever major tournament.
Holders Ivory Coast also won their three-team group by claiming six points, albeit failed to overly impress in qualifying after drawing three of their four games.
The Elephants are heading into their 22nd appearance at the AFCON finals, a record only bested by Egypt at this year’s tournament.
Egypt will be making their 23rd AFCON finals showing and their first since they lifted the trophy back in 2010.
Full List of AFCON 2017 teams: Gabon, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe, Mali, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, DR Congo, Togo
COMMENTS