Two second half goals by hosts Algeria dashed Uganda’s hopes of having a chance to book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff place.

Going into the crucial Group G match, Uganda Cranes needed a win to give themselves a chance of earning one of the four places in the Playoff.

It was Steven Mukwala who gave Uganda the lead at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium. The Simba SC forward capitalized on a Jude Ssemugabi well controlled ball and was quick to drive ahead and fire past Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane after 6 minutes.

The Desert Fennecs continued to push forward in search of goals, but the Uganda Cranes defending line stood firm. Ssemugabi came close to making it 2-0, but missed the target.

In the second half Allan Okello came close but his shot missed by inches after 56 minutes for Uganda. A minute later Algerian captain and former Manchester City FC winger Riyad Mahrez shot wide from inside the box.

In the last ten minutes of the match Algeria piled more pressure which paid off as they earned two penalties. After 81 minutes Mukwala fouled in the box and Mohamed Amoura made no mistake firing the penalty kick past Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Salim Omar Magoola.

With the clock ticking away Magoola misjudged and fouled an Algerian forward in the box. The referee made no mistake awarding a second penalty kick. Magoola was carried off injured, while veteran Denis Onyango came on. Amoura netted his second penalty of the day to take his tally to 10 goals in the qualifiers.

The defeat means Uganda finished second in Group G with 18 points and cannot make it to the FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff phase.

In the other Group G matches played bottom placed Somalia lost 1-0 to Mozambique, while Guinea and Botswana settled for a 2-2 draw in the other match. Rwanda also suffered a 3-0 defeat away to South Africa in a Group C qualifying match.

Later in Group F matches Kenya suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Ivory Coast, while Burundi lost 2-0 to Gabon. Sudan also completed their Group B campaign with a 1-0 defeat away to DR Congo.

The Uganda Cranes will be all out to try and collect a positive result in their last FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G qualifier tie away to Algeria on Tuesday night.

With Algeria already through to the FIFA World Cup, Uganda in second place with 18 points will be hoping that they can collect a good result at the Stade Hocine Ait Ahmed to stand a chance of making it to the play-off.

After their 1-0 away win to Botswana few days ago, the Uganda Cranes have given themselves another chance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers play-off category.

Head coach Paul Put has made it clear they must compete against a good Algerian side. “We know what we need in this match and the players must go out and give their best,” added Put.

Cranes forward Jude Ssemugabi, the scorer in the Botswana win says the players are ready to give their best. “We need your support in this remaining game, and we promise you that we are going to work hard to win that game,” added Ssemugabi.

The four best group runners-up will advance to the play-offs to determine the sole CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs.

Meanwhile in matches played by teams from the CECAFA Zone Ethiopia suffered a 3-1 defeat to Burkina Faso, while Sierra Leone beat Djibouti 2-1 in Group A matches on Sunday. South Sudan also earned a point in their goalless draw against Togo in a Group B match played in Juba on Monday.

Action continues on Tuesday with Sudan playing away to DR Congo in a Group B match, while Rwanda also take on hosts South Africa in a Group C tie. In Group F matches Burundi play away to Gabon, while Kenya take on Ivory Coast in Abidjan. Somalia will also host Mozambique in a Group G match in Algeria.

Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane picked a point in their goalless draw against Mauritania in a Group B FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier tie played on Friday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The draw sends Sudan to 13 points behind second placed DR Congo with 19 points, and table leaders Senegal with 21 points.

The 2019 African champions Senegal humbled hosts South Sudan 5-0 in another Group B match played at the Juba National Stadium on Friday.

Ismaila Sarr netted a brace, while Sadio Mane and Cherif Ndiaye also got their names on the score sheet. Nicolas Jackson converted a penalty.

In another match involving a team from the CECAFA Zone, Rwanda suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Benin in a match played at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Togin Aiyegun scored the lone goal.

Rwanda with 11 points are placed fourth in Group C after nine matches, while Benin lead the Group with 17 points. South Africa who were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe are second with 15 points, and Nigeria third with 14 points.

Action continues on Monday when Ethiopia play away to Burkina Faso, and Djibouti battle Sierra Leone in Group A matches.

Ethiopia have defeated Guinea Bissau 1-0 in a Group A match in the on-going FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.

The Walia Ibex scored through Ramkel James after 27 minutes in a match they hosted on Wednesday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

Abduselam Yusuf curved in a free-kick that Ramkel James made no mistake nodding past the Guinea Bissau goalkeeper. Ethiopia who are placed fifth in the Group pushed forward in search of more goals, but failed to score.

It was also Ethiopia’s second win in nine matches played, while hosts Djibouti who are bottom of the same Group lost 3-0 against Egypt in a match played in Casablanca, Morocco.

A brace by Muhamed Salah and another by Ibrahim Adel Mohamed Hassan were enough for Egypt who qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

In a late night match played at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, Tanzania suffered a 1-0 defeat to Zambia in a Group E match to dent their hopes.

After a goalless first half, Fashion Sakala netted for Zambia after 75 minutes. The defeat and Niger’s 3-1 win over Congo Brazzaville sends Taifa Stars to third place with 10 points, while Niger climbed ti second place with 12 points. Morocco who have also booked a ticket to the FIFA World Cup have played seven matches and accumulated 21 points.

Action continues on Thursday for teams in the CECAFA Zone with Burundi hosting Kenya in a Group F match, while Somalia take on Algeria and Uganda play away to Botsawana in Group G matches.