The curse continues- Uganda Cranes knocked out of CHAN 2023 tournament

The curse for the Uganda Cranes continues in the CHAN tournament as they failed to qualify from the group stages for a sixth successive time.

This is after the team was beaten 3-1 by west African giants Ivory Coast .

The Cranes came into this game knowing it’s a do or die and needed just a point to make history.

However the Ivorians started in high power and Frank Ssebufu was forced to clear the ball off his line in just the 6th minute.

After the brilliant clearance, he also got denied a goal scoring chance as Ivory Coast goalkeeper Ayayi denied him.

The Ivorians continued attacking and were rewarded in the 12th minute after Sankara Karamoko found the back of the net.

With the game in their hand, they continued mounting attacks on the Cranes forcing Geoffrey Wasswa into a big clearance in the 17th minute.

Moses Waiswa, James Begisa and Rogers Mato all tried their luck at the Ivory Coast goal but couldn’t equalize.

Vignon Mathieu Patrick Ouotro netted a second for the Ivorians in the 27th minute.

However Moses Waiswa gave the Cranes some hope after pulling one back from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.

Micho made two substitutions heading into the second half by bringing on Travis Mutyaba and Titus Ssematimba for Frank Ssebufu and Abdul Karim Watambala.

Rogers Mato forced Ayayi into a good save in the 55th minute after good vision from the KCCA attacker.

Micho tried to boost his attack by bringing on Soltilo Bright Stars forward Nelson Ssenkatuka in the 65th minute for Moses Waiswa.

Titus Ssematimba also his shot saved by Ayayi in the 68th minute.

As the Cranes looked for an equalizer, it provided the Ivorians with a chance to add a third after Aubin Kramo Kouamé saw the ball past Charles Lukwago.

With heavy damage already done, Micho brought on Moses Aliro and Ibrahim Orit for Gift Fred andJames Begisa in the 81st minute.

There wasn’t much the Cranes and Micho could do as the game ended 3-1 in favor of the Ivorians.

This sent the East Africans packing back home as Senegal beat DR Congo 3-0 in the other Group B encounter.

Senegal finished the group on 6 points as the group leaders as their only defeat came against the Cranes.

Ivory Coast and Uganda all had 4 points.

But the Ivorians had a better goal difference of a goal yet the Cranes had a -1.

This means that Senegal qualified as the leaders of the group and Ivory Coast followed suit.