By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 8^th 2025)

Group C Matchday 2

Algeria drew 1-1 with South Africa to head Group C with 4 points. Abdennour Belhocini scored for Algeria after 29 minutes after a blocked shot rebounded to him, allowing him to shoot from just outside the area with sufficient power to beat the keeper to his left. Thabiso Kutumela equalized for South Africa at the stroke of half time after a somewhat fortunate backheel found him in space in the area.

Co-hosts Uganda began their Group C recovery with a 3-0 victory over Guinea. Reagan Mpande gave the Cranes the lead with a header from a cross from the right after 31 minutes. Uganda doubled their lead through an Allan Okello penalty just after the hour mark – he had been brought down by Aboubacar Bangoura.

Guinea thought they had a chance to get back into the match with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, but the original decision to award a penalty was overturned after a VAR check. Ivan Ahimbisibwe scored a welcome third for the Cranes with a minute of normal time remaining.

Majid Boughera’s team head the group by 1 point from Uganda and Guinea, all of whom have played twice. South Africa has a point – one ahead of Niger, both of whom have played once.