Egypt beat Uganda 3-1 to win the maiden Nile Basin football tournament, reports Inas Mazhar The final was in the Military Stadium in front of a low spectator turn-out because of the cold and rain. But the few who braved the games were entertained by a plethora of goals by the Egyptians who netted 17 in their five games. Uganda had been beaten by Egypt 1-0 in the group stage thanks to a 93rd minute strike by Gedo to provide the one genuine test Egypt had throughout the championship. Uganda was in fact the only team that Egypt beat by only one goal. It was 1-0 at half time against Uganda on Monday, El-Sayed Hamdi opening the scoring for Egypt after half an hour. Before the match Bobby Williamson, Uganda's head coach, said he would not change his tactics or his plan in the final for fear of being heavily defeated by the Pharaohs. But in the second half, Hamdi netted the second goal followed by another from Gedo for Egypt to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead. Uganda scored their sole goal from a penalty kick. Winner Egypt thus pocketed $150,000 and Uganda $120,000. DR Congo beat Kenya 1-0 to claim third place in the play-off that took place before the final. Sudan claimed fifth place after beating Tanzania 1-0 in a match that took place on Sunday. The game had been scheduled earlier but was postponed because of the rain. The organising committee of the tournament named Egypt's left back Ahmed Samir Farag the best player of the tournament. Farag took part in all every match Egypt played in the event which was held from 5 to 17 January. The Ismaili star assisted in seven of the goals scored by his team. With six goals, Egypt's forward Hamdi was named the top scorer of the tournament. The Congolese goalkeeper Kidiaba was named best netminder, conceding two goals. DR Congo also received the fair play award. Everyone was a winner in the Nile Basin tournament which EFA head Samir Zaher promised would be an annual event. To a man, head coaches and team managers agreed the tournament was the best way to warm up for the upcoming CHAN tournament starting 4 February in Sudan, a football event for only African-based players. The DR Congo are the defending champions. Politically, the 15-day event may have helped ease tension somewhat between Egypt and other Nile Basin nations over the distribution of the river's waters. Egypt also used the Nile tournament as a warm-up for the crucial qualifer against South Africa in Cape Town in March for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. So far, Egypt has managed to collect just one point from two matches with four games to go. Egypt will play an official friendly with the US on 9 February in Cairo.
