_{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.}

_{Ethiopia edged Uganda Hippos 1-0 in the last Group B match played on Saturday at the on-going U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{The win saw Ethiopia top Group B with 4 points, while Uganda who stopped Tanzania 2-0 in their opening match finished second with 3 points.}

_{Ethiopia started the match with a lot of purpose and good tactical play forcing the Ugandan goalkeeper Abdu Magada to make three saves in the first 10 minutes.}

_{The Ugandan team tried to reorganize themselves, but failed to penetrate the well organized Ethiopian defending line. After recess Kedir Mohammed gave Ethiopia the lead after 60 minutes when his lob beat Uganda’s goalkeeper Magada. The reigning champions Uganda Hippos tried to push forward to try and level matters, but failed to find a break through.}

_{Jackson Mayanja, the Uganda Hippos coach said they had lost to a good Ethiopian team. “We shall go back and plan well for the semi final because facing a host a never easy,” added Mayanja.}

_{The Ethiopian coach Edilu Dereje Neriga said he was happy his players played to the instructions. “We played a good passing game and also pressed our opponents well,” added the coach.}

_{Ethiopia will now face South Sudan, while Sudan battle Uganda in the semi final matches on Tuesday at the Kober Stadium.}

_{The finalists will automatically qualify for the U-20 AFCON to be played in Egypt.}