_{The national U-20 teams of South Sudan and Uganda have stepped up preparations ahead of the U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.}

_{Egypt will host the competition from February 19th to March 11th, 2023. For the first time the AFCON U-20 will attract 12 teams that are pooled in three groups.}

_{South Sudan and Uganda, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) representatives have all been pooled in Group B that will also have The Central African Republic and Congo Brazzaville.}

_{Stefano Cusin, also the head coach of the South Sudan national team has been handling the U-20 team before they travel to Cairo, Egypt on Monday. The South Sudan team is expected to pitch camp in Egypt where they will also play three friendly matches.}

_{“The team has been putting in a lot of effort during training and the camp in Egypt will also help us better,” added Cusin. Victor Lawrence Lual, the Secretary General of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) confirmed that the team will play a friendly match against Egypt’s U-20 team on February 10th in Cairo. “We shall also have two other build-up matches before the tournament,” added Lual.}

_{For the CECAFA U-20 champions Uganda Hippos have also been preparing for over two weeks in Njeru before shifting to Kampala. Head coach Jackson Mayanja has made it clear that his target is to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.}

_{“We know what is at stake and the players know what we expect from them. We have stepped up with training and we shall continue to play more build-up matches,” added Mayanja.}

_{The tournament in Egypt will also double as the African qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 to be held in Indonesia. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup.}

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}

Vodacom Tanzania Premier League side, Azam FC have defeated KCCA FC 2-0 in a Group B match of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021.

Peter Paul Kasunda netted a brace to make sure the ice cream makers made a good start at the Azam Complex, Chamazi on Monday night.

It was a sweet revenge for Azam FC who lost 1-0 to the Ugandan side in the 2019 final in Kigali, Rwanda.

Earlier Brian Ahebwa missed from close range after 24 minutes before Herbert Achai also had his hot blocked by Azam FC goalkeeper Benedict Florence Haule. Brian Majwega was also forced to clear off the line mid way the first half before the game went into a goalless draw after 45 minutes.

Early in the second half Idd Bahati Kipagwile crossed to Kasunda who slotted past the KCCA FC goalkeeper before he made it 2-0 on 63 minutes. On the two occasions KCCA defender Denis Iguma failed to make the last clearance.

KCCA FC tried to fight back, but found a steady Azam FC defending line.

“We did not play well today and also missed the chances we created. We need to improve in our second match,” said KCCA FC coach Morley Byekwaso.

The Azam FC coach Vivier Bahati said it was a good display by his team. “We want to continue playing good football as the tournament progresses,” he added.

In an earlier Group B match Burundi’s Le Messager Ngozi battled to a 1-1 draw against Zanzibar Premier League champions KMKM SC. Akbar Muderi netted for the Burundian side, while Mohamed Said Mohamed scored for KMKM SC.

Action will return on Wednesday with two matches on card as Nyasa Big Bullets face Express FC, while Atlabara FC battle Young Africans SC in Group A matches.

Uganda Hippos on Monday demolished Tunisia 4-1 to reach the finals of the U-20 Total Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach Morley Byekwaso’s team took a 2-1 lead at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott after 45 minutes. Richard Basangwa and in-form Derrick Kakooza scored for Uganda Hippos, while Adam Ben Lamin netted for the Tunisians.

In the second half Kakooza added two more goals to become the  tournament’s leading scorer now with five goals.

The Tunisians tried to fight back, but failed to match the Uganda Hippos players who showed lots of pace and good inter-play.

“I am very proud of my boys who have followed instructions and done well. We wait to face Ghana in the final,” said coach Byekwaso. Ghana beat Gambia 1-0 in an earlier semi-final match.

To reach the final the Cecafa U-20 reigning champions started with a 2-0 win against Mozambique before falling 1-0 to Cameroon and finishing the group stage with a 2-1 victory against hosts Mauritania. Uganda Hippos went on to stop Burkina Faso 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at the quarter final stage.

Eng. Moses Magogo, the President of the Uganda FA and member of the CAF Executive thanked the players for the good display. “It is not the win but how and against who,” said Magogo.

Cecafa’s second representatives Tanzania fell out at the group stage after losing to Ghana and Morocco. They managed a 1-1 draw against Gambia.