Uganda Rugby Cranes huffed and puffed for fifth place in the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup after edging Senegal 34-31 in a nail-biter at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The decisive moment of the match came when Joseph Aredo converted a sudden death penalty after normal time had ended 23-23 and Extra Time 31-31.
Ivan Magomu gave Uganda the lead through a penalty but Senegal benefitted from Aredo’s kick to keep Cornrad Wonyama’s wild pass in play that was charged down by Djiby Diallo to set up Mamadou Ndiaye who ran 70 meters to touchdown under the posts with Ameth Sall converting.
Sall would stretch the lead to 10-03 shortly after before Magomu responded to make it a four-point game.
However, shortly after restart, the Cranes’ defence was stripped again as Senegal went out quickly to score through Alassane Sagna with Sall adding extras to take the lead to 17-06.
Alex Aturinda grounded from the back of the scrum with Magomu converting as the hosts trailed 17-13 at halftime.
Senegal stretched the lead with two penalties from Sall to start the second half before Byron Oketayot broke the line to set up debutant Arnold Ocen to touchdown under the posts with Magomu converting and following it up with a penalty to level the score at 23.
Magomu would miss a match-winning penalty and the game went into extra time. The skipper missed the first kickoff extra time and Uganda changed the kicker with Aredo taking over the duties. The makeshift centre converted his first kick and Senegal responded in equal measure through Sall.
At the start of the second half of extra time, Timothy Kisiga got under Mamadou Ndiaye’s territory kick at Uganda’s 22 and sliced through Senegal’s defense to score at the corner but Uganda’s defence couldn’t hold for eight minutes as Senegal after several phases scored a try with Alassane Sagna getting his second of the game and nearly won the game but Sall’s conversion hit the upright.
The two sides could not be separated after extra time and needed sudden death.
Aredo’s kickoff to start the sudden death period went high and deep and the Rugby Cranes forced a penalty, which he slotted in for the win.
Rugby Africa Cup 2024 | Sunday Results
- 7th Place: Cote d’Ivoire 23-10 Burkina Faso
- 5th Place: Senegal 31-34 Uganda
- 3rd Place: Kenya 27-38 Namibia
- Final: Algeria 03-29 Zimbabwe
