Uganda Hippos made a winning start in their opening Group B match at the on-going U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone.

Coach Jackson Mayanja’s team defeated arch-rivals Tanzania 2-0 in the match played this evening at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan.

After several tense moments in the first 30 minutes with each team making attempts at goal, it was the Uganda Hippos that took the lead through Titius Tito Ssematimba after 32 minutes. The Tanzanian defenders were caught flat footed as they failed to clear the ball out of danger, giving Ssematimba room to shot from close range.

Rogers Mugisha doubled Uganda’s lead after two minutes when be beautifully tapped in a well taken Ibrahim Kasinde cross.

The Tanzanian team returned determined in the second half and attacked, but Uganda Hippos goalkeeper Abdu Magada was up to the task.

“This has been a good start for us and I am happy that our boys played the good passing game that I asked them to play,” said Uganda Hippos head coach Mayanja after the match.

The Uganda Hippos will return to action in their last Group B match against Ethiopia on November 5th.

The tournament started yesterday with Burundi humbling Djibouti 5-0, while Sudan and South Sudan settled for a goalless draw in Group A matches.

The best two teams in each group will qualify for the semi final stage, while the finalists will automatically book the two slots for the U-20 AFCON 2023 to be played in Egypt.

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