Uganda, Tanzania qualify for semi final stage

_{Uganda Cubs, Tanzania and Somalia have qualified for the semi final stage at the on-going qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the CECAFA Zone in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.}

_{The Ugandan team registered their second Group B win on Thursday seeing off South Sudan 4-1, while Tanzania stopped hosts Ethiopia 3-2 in hard fought Group A contest at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.}

_{In the first match Uganda picked a 3-0 half time lead with Arafat Nkoola, Patrick Sembuusi and Abubakari Walusimbi scoring. After recess Nkoola scored his second goal of the day, and Abraham Langoya pulled one back for the South Sudan team.}

_{After winning their opening match 4-0 against Burundi Uganda have now topped Group B. Head coach Hamuza Lutalo told Cecafaonline that he is happy with the tactical discipline  his players are exhibiting on the pitch. “We no turn focus to prepare for the semi final and our target remains to win the title and qualify for the U-17 AFCON 2023,” added the coach.}

_{In the second match Ethiopia were ejected after falling to Tanzania’s Serengeti Boys. Sylvester Otto and Biruk Hailemariam each netted a brace in the first half for Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively.}

_{But it was Idrisa Makwepa’s well timed headed goal that gave Tanzania the win and sends them through the semi final before they even face Somalia in the last Group A match on Sunday. Somalia who beat Ethiopia 1-0 in their opening match are also already through to the knock out stage.}

_{On Sunday Tanzania will take on Somalia in the last Group A match, while Burundi will battle South Sudan to decide which team finish second in Group B.}

_{The best two teams in the qualifiers will qualify for the U-17 AFCON to be staged in Algeria next year.}