… Opens Group B to photo finish
2007 U20 African champions, Congo on Thursday forced rivals Uganda to a 2-2 draw in the second group B match throwing the group to a photo finish for qualifiers from the group.
It was a match the Ugandans should have decided by the first half having scored through Ssematimba in the 11th minute and was holding sway with Mayanja scoring the second at 33rd minute.
Although Congo fought like wounded Lions from which Negongars bagged a red card in 45+5 minutes, the Congolese came smoking in the second half to equalize through Loulendo who opened the score sheet at 6th minute and Mombouli who scored at 72nd minute to make it 2-2.
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Uganda, who were Runners-up in the last competition were really under pressure in the match having trailed the Congolese in every department of the game. They were stringing 291 passes to 366 of Congo; committed 22 fouls to Congo’s 17 and had 2 corner kicks to 6 of Congo.
Ref Lamin Jammeh of Gambia appears to be lenient with only two yellow cards each way.
The Ugandans by CAF table still lead group B with4 points from a win, and a draw scoring 4 goals and conceding 3. Congo is second with the same figures as Uganda. South Sudan is 3rd with 3 points from a win with 2 goals for and 2 against and a loss while Central African Republic with no win or draw scoring one goal and conceding 3 is seated at the bottom of the table.
Final Group B matches will be decided on Sunday at 1800 simultaneously between Uganda and South Sudan and also Central African Republic playing Congo.
Tomorrow Friday at 1500 hours, Tunisia will play Benin Republic while Zambia will size up the Scorpions of Gambia. Both matches are in Group C.
Eniola Olatunji reporting.
#CAFU20Egypt2023.
