CECAFA U20 Championships
Tanzania vs Uganda
Pece Stadium, Gulu
Sunday, 29-09-2019 @4pm
The Uganda U20 Men’s national football team, the Hippos will be hoping to seal a semi final spot at the 2019 CECAFA U20 championships when they take on Tanzania on Sunday afternoon.
The Hippos have been fairly disappointing so far, winning just one of their three group games.
They drew 1-1 with Eritrea in their opening game before drubbing Djibouti 5-1 in the second encounter. They then threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Sudan in the last group game.
The five points earned in group A meant that Uganda only qualified for the quarter finals as one of the two best placed third teams.
It is a disappointing way to reach the knockout stages but the bottom line is that the Hippos are now three games away from retaining the title they won in 2010.
“We are very prepared as usual but there are a few changes in our approach which we have undertaken, noted Hippos head coach Morley Byekwaso.
“This is a very crucial moment in the tournament and we need to be very careful about the Tanzanians because they can score goals.”
Byekwaso and his technical team are expected to field the same starting team identical to the one that drew 2-2 with Sudan.
Denis Otim who has been fairly ok in goal is expected to continue in between the sticks.
Aziz Kayondo, Joseph Kafumbe, Gavin Kizito and Kenneth Ssemakula will be in the back-line.
Ivan Asaba, Bright Anukani and Steven Sserwadda will be the threw in midfield while Sadat Anaku is expected to lead the forward line that will aslo consist of Sadam Masereka and Hassan Ssenyonjo.
For Tanzania, they finished second in group B so as to reach the quarter finals.
They were impressive in the groups, winning two and drawing the other of their three games.
True to Byekwaso’s words, thw Tanzanians can indeed score goals as they managed 11 in the threw group games.
They beat Ethiopia 4-0 drew 2-2 with Kenya before humiliating Zanzibar 5-0.
Tanzania will indeed ask Uganda a lot of questions and the Hippos must defend better if they are to progress to the semi finals.
Hippos projected starting XI
Denis Otim- GK (1) Joseph Kafumbe (14), Abdul Aziz Kayondo (3), Gavin Kizito Mugweri – Captain (5), Kenneth Semakula (4), Bright Anukani (6),Hassan Ssenyonjo (12), Ivan Asaba (11), Steven Sserwadda (8), Sadat Anaku Happy (10), Sadam Masereka (20)
The other quarter final match-ups (All played on Sunday)
-Eritrea vs Zanzibar @4pm (Njeru)
-South Sudan vs Sudan @1pm (Gulu)
-Kenya vs Burundi @1pm (Njeru)
