Wokorach penalties edge Africa Cup thriller

Group photo of some of the Rugby Cranes players with the man of the match Philip Wokorach on July 6, 2022. Photo/ @loblanchard13 on Twitter 


What you need to know:

  • France-back ace Philip Wokorarch kicked two late penalties to seal the victory in Marseille.

Rugby Cranes dug into their reserves to beat Senegal 30-29 at the ongoing Africa Cup in France yesterday.
France-back ace Philip Wokorach kicked two late penalties to seal the victory in Marseille. The two sides were knocked out of the running for the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Saturday. Coach Fred Mudoola’s side lost 42-7 to Kenya in their quarterfinal while Algeria advanced 35-12 at the expense of Senegal.

They were reduced to fighting for placement positions between fifth and eighth. Like the last meeting between the two sides in 2017 which Uganda won 17-16 in Dakar, this was a nail-biting contest. You expected an even stronger Senegal this year after delivering the shock of the 2021 Africa Cup when they beat Kenya 20-19 in Nairobi. The West Africans fired the first salvo taking a 7-0 lead. Uganda responded with two tries – one each to flanker Jacob Ocen and right wing Wokorach. The latter converted both for 14-7 lead. A Wokorach penalty provoked a response from Senegal who assumed the game 26-17.

Uganda then scored a converted try and a penalty to go up 27-26. Senegal bisected the posts for 29-27 before Wokorach warmed Uganda’s hearts with the winning penalty late in the game.
Mudoola made three changes from the team that started the quarterfinal defeat to Kenya. Ochen, who also scored a try against the east African neighbours, started ahead of Mark Omoding.

Komakech Akera came in for Eliphaz Emong on the second row while Solomon Okia paved way for Joseph Aredo.
Aredo started at fullback while Wokorach moved to the right wing. 
Uganda will now play for fifth place on Sunday against either Burkina Faso or Ivory Coast.