Uganda Hockey Cranes bowed out of the Paris 2024 Africa Olympics Qualifiers following their 9-1 defeat to Egypt in the semifinals on Friday.
The Hockey Cranes put up a grit display in the opening minutes of the game, and almost ended the first period unharmed, but they let their guard down and conceded the first goal with just five minutes left to the end of the period.
It was a goal that turned dire the situation as eight more arrived in the subsequent periods.
Egypt scored four goals in the first half and added five more in the second to seal a comfortable victory.
Maxwell Mugisha who plays for Weatherhead in the national league scored Uganda’s lone goal as the Hockey Cranes bowed out of the competition.
The defeat means Uganda who were appearing at this competition for only the second time ended the tournament with 22 conceded goals and just two scored.
It is a big improvement from their maiden appearance in 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya where they let in 67 while netting just one.
Uganda will now turn their attention to the third/fourth placement game that will happen on Sunday.
The Hockey Cranes will face either Ghana or South Africa- who meet later today in the second semifinal- to determine their final position in this edition’s Qualifiers.
Courtesy Photos
