The Uganda Hippos are set to face hosts Tanzania in a highly anticipated semifinal of the CECAFA AFCON U20 Zonal Qualifiers on Friday at the KMC Stadium.
A victory for either team will guarantee a place in the AFCON U20 final tournament, scheduled to take place in January 2025 in Ivory Coast.
Heading into the clash, the Hippos remain unbeaten in the tournament, having topped Group B with seven points from three matches.
Their impressive campaign includes two wins and a draw, setting them up as strong contenders for qualification. Tanzania, meanwhile, secured second place in Group A, trailing behind Kenya.
Uganda’s head coach, Mathias Lule, acknowledged the challenge posed by Tanzania, particularly with their home advantage, but remains confident in his team’s ability to perform under pressure.
“I believe we are in perfect shape to face Tanzania. I know it is never easy to play against hosts, but we have prepared the team well to execute the task at hand,” Lule said, expressing faith in his players ahead of the crucial encounter.
Team captain, Toto Majub, echoed his coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s determination to secure an AFCON U20 berth. “We want to qualify for AFCON, and that is our target as players. We are confident and optimistic that this will happen,” Majub stated.
Key to Uganda’s success has been standout forward John Paul Dembe, who has already netted four goals in the tournament, making him a player to watch in the upcoming match.
The Hippos also have history on their side, aiming to clinch the CECAFA title for the third consecutive time, having lifted the trophy in the 2020 and 2022 editions held in Tanzania and Sudan, respectively.
Should the match end in a draw after normal time, extra time will be played to determine the winner.
Both finalists will earn automatic qualification to the AFCON U20 final tournament in Ivory Coast.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on the KMC Stadium this Friday as the Hippos look to make history once again and secure their ticket to AFCON U20.
