EMMANUEL CHISUPA, Johannesburg | Friday 10.00am.
Uganda (0) 2 (Morley Byekwaso 48, Willy Kyambadde 53) Mali (0) 0
A CROWD composed almost exclusively of schoolchildren at Rand Stadium saw Uganda spring the first surprise of the All Africa Games football tournament with a comfortable Group 1 victory.
Mali, who entered the field as favourites because of their pedigree in age-limit competitions, were a poor second to the East African Kobs and finished with 10 men after Temema Ndiaye was dismissed for two bookings.
It just was not the Malians day with Mamadou Diarra seeing a header rebound off the crossbar and Mamadou Kante having a goal ruled offside soon after Uganda had established a two-goal advantage.
Uganda, who defeated Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea to reach the finals,
won the midfield battle despite deploying four men to the five of Mali and their second goal was worth travelling a long way to see.
A beautiful passing movement saw the ball swept through midfield and
down the right wing before Andrew Mukasa helped a cross on to Willy Kyambadde, whose shot flew into the net.
Impressive midfielder Morley Byekwaso, a Kampala City Council team-mate of Kyambadde, had put Uganda ahead by pouncing on another cross from the right, turning one defender and planting the ball just inside the post.
The dismissal of Ndiaye was so unnecessary as he charged into
goalkeeper Samuel Kawalya with just 120 seconds left on a warm, cloudless afternoon despite having no hope of winning possession.
Ndiaye is automatically banned from the second-round match against
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