Uganda secured a massive 1-0 victory over Egypt in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Thursday.
The win lifts the Cranes to the top of Group E standings with seven points, while Egypt slip down to the second spot ahead of the return leg which will be played in Alexandria next week Tuesday.
Uganda had the upper hand in the first 15 minutes of the encounter as they pressed the Pharaohs but they couldn’t take the lead.
Egypt’s very experienced goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary produced a finger-tipping save to deny Uganda’s lively winger Emmanuel Okwi, whose cross was goal-bound in the 13th minute.
The hosts had several chances to break the deadlock but were often denied by the 44-year-old shot-stopper 2ho pulled some great saves.
The Cranes continued to dominate in the early stages of the second-half with Uganda forward Farouk Miya forcing El-Hadary into a fine low save in the 50th minute.
El-Hadary was finally beaten the next minute when Okwi cut inside, before firing past the legendary keeper to make it 1-0 to Uganda much to the delight of their vocal home crowd.
After the hour mark, Uganda keeper Denis Onyango was called upon to make a magnificent save to deny Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah from point blank range.
Uganda, with 7, now sit a point clear at the top of the table with three rounds of Group E matches remaining.
Ghana, who have only one point from two games, host Congo in the group’s other game in Kumasi on Friday. A win for the Black Stars throws the group open.
Only the top-placed team qualifies for Russia 2018.
Line-ups:
Uganda: Onyango – Wadada, Walusimbi, Isinde, Juuko, Mawanda, Aucho, Okwi/88′ Sserunkuma, Miya/75′ Kizito, Nsibambi, Ochaya/93′ Muleme.
Egypt: El-Hadary – Abdel-Shafi, Hegazy, Rabia, Fathi, Hamed, Elneny, El-Said/73′ Hamed, Trezeguet/46′ Sobhi, Salah, Kahraba/67′ Gamal
