With a game to finish the group stages, the Hippos of Uganda already qualified for the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Hippos who are joint leaders of Group B with Congo on 4 points each, will today (Sunday) at 8pm play their final Group B match in Ismailia against neighbors South Sudan. Game will be relayed live on FUFA TV.
The Ugandans beat the Central African Republic 2-1 before drawing 2-2 against the Red Devils of Congo.
South Sudan is in the third position with 3 points and Central African Republic in the last position with no point.
Two top teams qualify from each group. Also, the best two third placed teams qualify as well. Uganda is guaranteed one of the two by end of the Group stages irrespective of the results on Sunday.
The team is seeking to win the tourney having reached its final in 2021 where it lost to Ghana.
The qualification is yet another achievement of the Eng Moses Magogo-led FUFA resulting from deliberate efforts of building an institution of FUFA, seeking funding for football administration and activities, establishing national teams at different levels including women teams, etcetera.
Mayanja speaks out on South Sudan game
Uganda Hippos Coach, Jackson Mayanja says despite the qualification, he is not taking his today’s opponents, South Sudan, for a ride, noting that the latter are not a small team.
“People should not think South Sudan is a small nation in football but the team is a good team so we’re taking them as a very serious team,” said the former El Masry ace.
“We should take South Sudan as a nation which qualifies in their true colours.
“In this process we’re in every game is very, very vital for the team and all the teams in the tournament.
“For us we handle the game as it comes because we are on 4 points and we need qualification against South Sudan,” he added.
The former Uganda Cranes midfielder was quick to put to bed questions of him and the team being under pressure.
“I’m not the type of coach who has pressure from the game of football like i said if you have pressure in this beautiful game as a coach then you better retire from this game immediately,” he emphasized.
“This is the situation you always have in the tournament but if you have pressure I’m sorry.
“For me this is a game that doesn’t put me under pressure but although this is the kind of thing which happens that is why i always tell my players don’t put pressure on yourself.”