Egypt got a late winner from substitute Abdallah El Said to knock Uganda out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
In a game that came with few chances, El Said strike came in the nick of time with a minute left on the clock. Mohamed Salah teed up El Said, who struck firmly past Uganda keeper Denis Onyango.
The substitute lashed in from a Mohamed Salah pass to leave the seven-time champions needing only a point from their last Group D game against Ghana — who beat Mali 1-0 earlier in the day — to go through.
“We tried to play good football but things perhaps did not turn out the way we wanted them to,” admitted Egypt coach Hector Cuper after a poor match on an awful surface.
“It was difficult on that pitch and in this climate but we won and that is the important thing.”
The win means Egypt play Ghana on Wednesday with top spot of Group D still at stake, while Uganda are out of their first tournament since 1978.
Uganda, who had a Joseph Ochaya effort correctly disallowed early in the second half, are the first team to be knocked out of this Cup of Nations after a second consecutive 1-0 defeat.
Cranes coach Milutin Sredojevic said: “We tried our best but unfortunately it was not enough.
“We have come here after 39 years away and this is a hard lesson for us.
“If you lose in a convincing way you accept it, but in this way it is very hard to accept.”
Egypt brought 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary and Stoke City winger Ramadan Sobhi into their starting line-up but again Cuper’s side — who drew 0-0 with Mali in their opening game — lacked a creative edge.
On a deteriorating pitch in Port-Gentil, seven-times champions Egypt failed to break down a resolute Cranes defence for long periods.
Onyango made an impressive clearing header to deny the onrushing Salah at the end of an otherwise lifeless first half.
Uganda began the second half brightly, forcing veteran Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary to punch several set-pieces clear but ultimately failed to register a shot on target as Ochaya turned in Faruku Miya’s through ball from a clearly offside position on 52 minutes.
El Said blasted a shot well over when unmarked and Marwan Mohsen went close for the Pharaohs with a header, but Egypt appeared to be heading for their second consecutive goalless draw.
However, an otherwise quiet Salah showed great composure late on to check his shot and play in El Said with a reverse pass, the substitute’s close-range shot evading Onyango.
Uganda now face Mali in the final round of group games on Wednesday, with Mali needing a win and for Ghana to beat Egypt by two goals or more if they are to qualify.
