U-20 AFCON: Uganda Hippos demolish Tunisia to reach final

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.