By Mark Ogagan
Uganda will play hosts Ghana in the men’s final of this year’s African Games on Friday after both sides won their semi-final matches in thrilling encounters in Accra on Tuesday.
In an exhilarating display of football prowess at the Accra Sports Stadium, the two semi-finals matches of the 13th edition of the African Games produced thrillers.
The home side needed a late goal against Senegal to win 1-0 to secure their clash with Uganda, who rallied from two goals down to defeat Congo 4-2 in exciting fashion.
Ghana, buoyed by home support, edged past Senegal with the narrow victory in the second semi-final match on Tuesday night.
The lone goal came courtesy of Michael Ephson, showcasing Ghana’s resilience and determination to secure a spot in the final showdown after the Senegal keeper failed to deal with a low shot.
Meanwhile, Uganda showcased their fighting spirit in a thrilling encounter against Congo, emerging victorious with a 4-2 win in a six-goal thriller.
Despite falling two goals behind early in the match, Uganda staged a remarkable comeback, with Abass Kyeyune and Bruno Bunyaga scoring a brace each to secure the win.
Speaking after the match, Uganda coach Morley Byekwaso attributed their success to prayers and hard work.
He expressed his team’s aspirations to join the ranks of African football giants like Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, highlighting the influence of players who have gained experience abroad and returned to share their knowledge.
“Our secret has been prayers and hard work,” Byekwaso said. “We aspire to be one of the giants in African football.”
In contrast, Congo coach Clement Massamba Madieta lamented his team’s performance, acknowledging the challenges they faced due to fatigue from previous matches.
Despite their disappointment, Madieta emphasized his team’s determination to salvage a podium finish in the bronze medal match.
“I must admit today was a bad day for us,” Madieta remarked. “We will try and clear our memories of this bad game and prepare for the 3rd place match on Friday.”
With both Ghana and Uganda eyeing gold medal glory, Friday’s final promises to be a fiercely contested battle between two formidable opponents.
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