CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: Uganda battle guest side DR Congo

July 18th Fixture

Uganda v DR Congo – 1300hrs
Djibouti v Kenya – 1600hrs

Uganda will face a tough test against guest side DR Congo when the CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup enters Day 2 at the Bahir Dar International Stadium in Ethiopia.

Coach Morley Byekwaso who led Uganda to a second place finish at the AFCON U-20 this year says every game in this tournament will be treated with a lot of caution.

“We do not know a lot about our first opponents DR Congo, but we are well prepared for our first match because we know it means a lot in a tournament,” said Byekwaso.

Uganda’s team was lucky to play two international friendly matches away against Saudi Arabia’s Tokyo Olympic bound team. Byekwaso’s side managed to pick a goalless draw in the first game, but lost 2-0 in the second match.

Byekwaso says the two friendly games in Saudi Arabia have helped them improve a number of aspects on the team especially in scoring and defending.

After Uganda face DR Congo in a Pool A match, Djibouti will battle Kenya in the second game of the day.
Stanley Okumbi, the head coach of Kenya’s Emerging Stars his players have prepared well and are ready to give a good display against Djibouti. “We need to treat every game like a final,” said Okumbi.

Meanwhile, Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) has said they are closing out fans from watching the matches in the Stadium. “We initially allowed 25,000 fans to watch each game, but after fans failed to observe SOPs and social distance, we have decided we have the matches played minus fans,” added Gecheo.