AFCON 2015 Qualifiers: Uganda Fall to Madagascar but Keep Qualification Hopes Alive
Uganda suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Madagascar on Sunday in the first leg of their preliminary round tie for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Despite the loss, the Cranes head into the return leg with a valuable away goal and a realistic chance of progressing.
The match, held in Antananarivo, saw the hosts take control with two goals that stunned the Ugandan side. However, a crucial strike from forward Hamis Kiiza gave the visitors a vital lifeline. His goal means that Uganda will only need a 1-0 win in the return leg, scheduled for two weeks from now, to advance on the away goals rule.
The fixture also holds implications for Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea, who played their first leg on Saturday in Nouakchott. Mauritania edged the encounter 1-0 thanks to a well-taken goal, giving them a slender advantage heading into the reverse fixture.
The winners of the two ties—Uganda vs. Madagascar and Mauritania vs. Equatorial Guinea—will meet in the second round of the preliminary phase. Only one of them will advance to the final group stage of the AFCON qualifiers.
The eventual victor will join Group D, a highly competitive pool that already features Ghana, Togo, and Guinea—three traditional powerhouses of African football.
With everything still to play for, Uganda will be hoping for a strong showing at home to overturn the deficit and keep their dream of reaching Morocco 2015 alive.
