KAMPALA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Algeria beat hosts Uganda 22-13 in the last Group C match of the Rugby Africa Cup on Sunday at the Kyadondo Rugby ground in Kampala.
Despite the loss, Uganda qualified for the final eight as group leaders on points difference, most of which were earned in their 53-20 win over Ghana in their first game.
Tries by Djamel Ouchene and Nabil Djalout and two conversions by Mathieu Loree were enough to give Algeria a 15-13 halftime lead. Uganda scored their tries through Brian Odongo and Adrian Kasito, while Ivan Magomu scored a penalty.
In the second half, Algeria came all out and scored one more try through Reda Benlebbad, and Loree's subsequent conversion was good. Maxwell Ebonga later scored a penalty.
"We failed to play good rugby today against Algeria. But we are happy that we have qualified for the quarterfinal," said Uganda coach Brian Makalama after the game.
Uganda, who topped Group C, will now face Kenya in the quarterfinal, while Algeria take on Senegal.
This also means Uganda have qualified to the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup which is a qualifiying event for the 2023 World Rugby Cup.
The 2022 Rugby Africa Cup will place together eight teams -- the top two from each of the four groups from the 2021 Rugby Africa Cup. The games will be played on a knockout basis with the overall winner qualifying to the World Cup in France.
Meanwhile, in an earlier game played at the Kyadondo Rugby ground, Uganda's Lady Rugby Cranes completed a double over Zimbabwe with a 34-3 win in the women's Rugby Africa Cup. Both Ugandan teams have now qualifiyed for the next round. Enditem