_{The Uganda Hippos have retained the CECAFA U-20 men’s title.}

_{Coach Jackson Mayanja’s team came from a goal down to stop South Sudan 2-1 in the final of the regional tournament played on Friday night at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{Going into the final the two teams had already booked slots for the U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 which will take place in Egypt.}

_{The South Sudan team cheered on by over 1000 fans started on a high with several attacks before they took the lead after 15 minutes. Felix Agumemboki Abishai tapped in from close range giving Uganda’s goalkeeper Abdu Magada no chance.}

_{But the Hippos stepped up their game after conceding and piled pressure on the South Sudan defending line. Issa Bugembe leveled matters after 23 minutes with a low drive.}

_{Uganda continued to push forward, but the South Sudan team was up to the task defending in numbers and trying to push forward on the break.}

_{After recess midfielder Titus Ssematimba put Uganda ahead after 61 minutes with a rebound after the South Sudan defenders failed to clear their lines. At the stroke of full South Sudan’s goalscorer Abishai had a clear chance at goal, but shot straight to the Uganda Hippos goalkeeper.}

_{“I am happy to lead the team to U-20 AFCON and also to retain the title. It has been really hard work in the few weeks I have been with this team,” said a happy Uganda Hippos coach Mayanja after the match.}

_{Charles John Gwit Uok, the South Sudan coach said his players had given their best against a good Ugandan team. “We played well and got punished for some few mistakes,” added the coach.}

_{In an earlier match hosts Sudan beat Ethiopia 2-1 to finish third. During the Awards, South Sudan’s goalkeeper Godwin Sabio was voted Player of the tournament, while Burundi’s Arthir Nibakora was top scorer with three goals.}

_{Uganda’s Abdu Magada was voted best goalkeeper, while his team also bagged the Fair Play Award.}

_{The U-20 AFCON qualifiers for the CECAFA region attracted seven teams; Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti and Tanzania.}

_{Reigning champions Uganda will face a tough test when they battle South Sudan in the final of the U-20 CECAFA final at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan this evening.}

_{But before the final Ethiopia will face hosts Sudan to decide who finishes third in this tournament which is also an U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifier for the CECAFA Zone.}

_{Jackson Mayanja, the Uganda Hippos coach told Cecafaonlie that although they have accomplished the first task of qualifying for the U-20 AFCON, his team is also determined to retain the title. “ We know playing in a final is always different because there is a lot at stake and South Sudan is a team with a lot of determination,” he added.}

_{Mayanja says although the South Sudan team is very defensive, he has mapped out a way that will unlock them. “But we also need to be cautious in defending. My players know that as a coach my target is to get them qualify for the U-20 World Cup,” added Mayanja.}

_{Charles John Gwit Uok, the South Sudan head coach has also made it clear that they are hungry to win the title.}

_{“We know Uganda is a strong team, but we are determined to go all out and play a good game to be able to get a good result,” he added.}

_{To reach the final South Sudan ejected the Ethiopia 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes, while Uganda stopped hosts Sudan 2-0. While Uganda lost to Ethiopia 1-0 in the group stage, South Sudan go into the final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.}

_{South Sudan and Uganda Hippos have qualified for the U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.}

_{The two teams came out victorious with South Sudan ejecting Ethiopia and Uganda seeing off Sudan in the semi final stage on Tuesday in the Zonal qualifiers on-going in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{South Sudan edged Ethiopia 4-2 in penalties after the two teams drew 2-2 after 120 minutes at the Al Hilal Stadium.}

_{Ethiopia took an early lead from the spot after 8 minutes when Yosef Mekonen converted. But South Sudan also leveled from the spot after 17 minutes through skipper Joseph Jele.}

_{The two teams pushed forward after recess but failed to find the goals. Zelalem Kussa restored Ethiopia’s lead after 117 minutes, but Felix Abishal made it 2-2 after 112 minutes. During penalties South Sudan converted four penalties and missed one, while Ethiopia converted two and missed two.}

_{Charles John Gwit Uok, the South Sudan coach thanked his players for a job well done. “Beating Ethiopia has not been an easy task. But I thank my players for the hard work,” added the coach.}

_{The second match saw Uganda defeat 10-man Sudan team 2-0 in a match played at the Kober Stadium.}

_{Defender Rogers Torach Ochaki and skipper Isma Mugulusi netted two second half goals for the Uganda Hippos. Sudan’s Elborae Elhag was sent off after 76 minutes for a bad foul.}

_{Jackson Mayanja, the Uganda Hippos coach said he was proud of his players for winning and qualifying for AFCON. “We had players who missed this match because of COVID-19 issues, but still we worked hard to win,” said Mayanja.}

_{South Sudan will now face Uganda in the final, while Sudan face Ethiopia in the pla-off all on Friday at the Al Hilal Stadium.}

South Sudan U20 National team has booked a semi-final slot in the on-going U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone by beating Djibouti by a solitary goal in a match played at Kober Stadium, Khartoum.

In the crucial final Group A match, both teams played attractive attacking football but lacked sharpness in front of goal. One of the best chances came to Tito Mayor who missed a clear chance after a beautiful teamwork build-up in the 25th minute. Moments later some good pressing forcing a fine save from Djibouti keeper, Aboubakar Abdi.

Both teams committed a number of fouls with South Sudan having a penalty appeal denied by the referee who waved play on. The match went into halftime 0-0.

Coming into the second half South Sudan showed more intention in attacking while Djibouti’s defense held on together breaking with counterattacks. South Sudan pressing yielded no results and the technical bench initiated their first substitution card by bringing in Bhaanki Abujalha in the 58th minute for Agot and minutes later Aziz Fulla for Kenyi Wani.

South Sudan head coach, Charles John brought in Jacob Coal for Kennedy Martin in the 72nd minute. In the 79th minute, an eruptive attack by South Sudan from the left flank produced a set piece into Djibouti’s penalty box that was handled by a defender for a penalty. It was at this moment that Captain Joseph Jele stepped back calmly to slot home the penalty that won the match.

Djibouti tried to get into the game by bringing on board Khalid Ali for Chakib Ali Omar in the 83rd minute but South Sudan held on firmly into end of the match to secure an important win that took them to the next stage of the tourney.

They qualified as runners-up in Group A led by Sudan who won by a solitary goal against Burundi in Group A final match held at Al-Hilal Stadium, Khartoum.

_{Group A Table Standings}

                 _{P    W   D     L   GF    GA   A  Pts}

_{Sudan       3      2     1     0     2       0     2    7}

_{S.Sudan    3      1     2    0     1       0     1     5}

Burundi 3      1    1   0     5     1     4  4    

_{Djibouti    3      0     0     2     0      7     -7    0}