Uganda Hippos brush a side Ethiopia in AFCON U-20 Zonal Qualifiers

Uganda Hippos made a comfortable start in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers on-going in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Coach Matia Lule’s team brushed a side Ethiopia 3-0 in a Group B match played at the Azam Complex.

The two teams started on a high, but it was Uganda that were sharper at goal taking the lead through Godfrey Sekibengo after 25 minutes.

The Ethiopian central defenders Girum Reda and Wancha Thurbiel failed to keep a close eye on the striker who made no mistake beating goalkeeper Abyu Ayele with a well timed shot. Mpasa Swabiri made it 2-0 for Uganda Hippos with three minutes ticking away to half time.

After recess Ethiopia piled a lot of pressure especially through Anteneh Beyene and Yitagesu Bayu, but the Uganda defenders stood firm. On the 90^th minute Ethiopia’s substitute Biniyam Babulo gifted Uganda with a won goal.

“We are happy that we have started the title defence with a comfortable win. But we still have two more matches in the group stage that we must take seriously,” said Uganda’s coach Lule after the match. His counterpart Seyoum Kebede Eshetu, the Ethiopian coach said his player did not respond so well and gave Uganda gaps.

In the earlier Group B match Burundi stopped South Sudan 1-0 in a match played at the KMC Stadium. Christophe Ndayikengurukiye netted the lone goal after 8 minutes.

Action return to Group A on Tuesday with hosts Tanzania facing Djibouti at the KMC Stadium, while Sudan face Rwanda at the Azam Complex.

Collected results

Tanzania 1 Kenya 2

Sudan 3 Djibouti 1

South Sudan 0 Burundi 1

Uganda 3 Ethiopia 0