Semi-final stage set for AFCON U-20 Zonal qualifiers

It is D-Day as the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers take centre stage in Dar es salaam, Tanzania on Friday.

Hosts Tanzania will take to the field first to face 2022 champions Uganda in the first semi-final match at the KMC Stadium, while in-form Kenya battle Burundi in the second match later at the Azam Complex.

Charles Boniface Mkwasa, the Tanzania head coach has made it clear that facing Uganda will not be an easy task because they have a good team. “But we have prepared well and our mission is to win the match and qualify for AFCON U-20 2025,” added Mkwasa.

The coach who admitted that they made a shaky start losing 2-1 to Kenya are now well prepared for the semi-final match. Mkwasa may have to start his leading striker Sabri Kondo who has been starting on the bench, but has netted four goals.

For the Uganda Hippos Coach Matia Lule, he has made it clear that this is a final before a final because the winner will qualify for the AFCON 2025 finals. “We know playing Tanzania I their home is not easy, but my players have prepared and will go all out to do the job,” added Lule who has an experience of coaching teams in Tanzania.

Swedish based John Paul Dembe who has also scored four goals so far is expected to lead Uganda’s search for goals together with Godfrey Sekibengo.

Salim Bab Ndarai, the Kenya coach made it clear that they are ready for the match and their mission is to qualify for the AFCON U-20 2025. “We have been together with these players even at U-18 level and they are hungry to qualify,” added the coach.

The experienced Gustave Niyonkuru, the Burundi coach who was also in-charge of their women’s team at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations made it clear that although they respect the Kenyan team, his players are very determined and ready to fight for the national flag.

Kenya’s leading scorers Kelvin Wangaya and the Spanish based Aldrine Kibet are expected to lead the attack, while Burundi will look to Christophe Ndayikengurukiye and Ramazani Hakizimana.

The finalists will qualify for AFCON U-20 to take place next year in a venue to be announced.

Collected group stage results

Tanzania 1 Kenya 2

Sudan 3 Djibouti 1

South Sudan 0 Burundi 1

Uganda 3 Ethiopia 0

Tanzania 7 Djibouti 0

Sudan 1 Rwanda 0

Uganda 4 Burundi 1

South Sudan 2 Ethiopia 1

Rwanda 0 Kenya 0

Tanzania 1 Sudan 0

Burundi 3 Ethiopia 2

Uganda 2 South Sudan 2

Djibouti 0 Kenya 4

Tanzania 3 Rwanda 0

Sudan 0 Kenya 4

Rwanda 5 Djibouti 1