Uganda will lock horns with Senegal in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) round of 16 match at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Friday.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT.

The Cranes are set to make their maiden appearance in the knockout phase since 1978 after finishing second in Group A.

Sebastien Desabre’s men secured a 2-0 victory over DR Congo, before drawing 1-1 with Zimbabwe and they ended their group stage campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Egypt.

French coach Desabre feels that anything can happen after leading the 1978 Afcon runners-up to the knockout phase.

“We have reached the second round, which was the minimum target set for us by the national federation,” Desabre said.

“And anything can happen in knockout matches.”

Goalkeeper Denis Onyango and striker Emmanuel Okwi are Uganda’s key players and they will be keen to help their nation stun Senegal.

Meanwhile, Senegal, who are one of the tournament favourites, booked their place in the knockout stage after finishing second in Group C.

The Lions of Teranga brushed aside Tanzania 2-0, before losing 1-0 to Algeria and they secured a second-place finish after thrashing Kenya 3-0.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane has explained that Aliou Cisse’s men cannot afford to underestimate the Cranes.

“We saw the kind of football they played against Egypt,” said Mane, who is widely regarded as one of the best African footballers at the moment.

“They are a good side and we will need to be at our best to beat them.”

Mane and midfield maestro Idrissa Gana Gueye are Senegal’s key players and they will be looking to inspire the 2002 Afcon runners-up to victory over Uganda.

In head-to-head stats, Uganda and Senegal have clashed four times.

Senegal are undefeated against Uganda having recorded two victories and two draws.

Star forward Sadio Mane goes head-to-head with star goalkeeper Denis Onyango when Senegal meet Uganda on Friday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match in Cairo.

Senegalese Mane and Ugandan Onyango were included in the 2018 African Team of the Year chosen by a Confederation of African Football (Caf) panel.

They are also Champions League winners – Mane with Liverpool in Europe last season and Onyango with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns in Africa three years ago.

Mane has scored twice and missed a penalty for Senegal in two group matches after being suspended for the opening game.

“I am even ready to trade my Champions League success to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” he told France Football magazine in a pre-tournament interview.

Veteran Onyango has conceded three goals in three matches with another Liverpool star, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, among those who have scored against him.

Here, AFP Sport looks at the two last-16 matches this Friday with Senegal and Morocco expected to beat Uganda and Benin respectively.

SENEGAL v UGANDA

Senegal may top the African rankings, 58 places above Uganda, but coach Aliou Cisse has warned his star-stacked side against over-confidence.

“No one should take Uganda for granted and eliminating them will not be easy,” warned Cisse, one of the stars of the Teranga Lions team that reached the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals.

Mane echoed his coach, saying: “We saw the kind of football they played against Egypt. They are a good side and we will need to be at our best to beat them.”

Uganda had Egypt on the rack for more than half an hour before Salah scored, and were equally impressive in the second half without being able to convert chances into goals.

“We have reached the second round, which was the minimum target set for us by the national federation, and anything can happen in knockout matches,” said coach Sebastien Desabre.

BENIN v MOROCCO

Morocco have been clinical, determined and efficient so far in Egypt, mirroring the beliefs of Herve Renard, the only coach to win the Cup of Nations with two countries.

France-born Renard guided outsiders Zambia to the title in 2012 and repeated the feat with previous underachievers the Ivory Coast three years later.

“I did windows and carpets,” said Renard, referring to his job as a cleaner in Paris before turning to football.

He took Morocco to the 2017 quarterfinals in his first Cup of Nations with the Atlas Lions, and they, Algeria and Egypt won all three group matches this time.

Benin also have a French coach, Michel Dussuyer, who was embraced by his players and technical staff after taking the Squirrels beyond the first round for the first time.