AFCON U20 Semis:
*Ghana vs Gambia – 7pm
*Uganda vs Tunisia – 10:30pm
The Uganda Hippos face Tunisia in the second semifinal of the ongoing 2021 AFCON U20 Championship in Mauritania.
To reach this stage, Morley Byekwaso’s side punched above their weight with a 5-3 stunning penalty shootout win over Burkina Faso at the quarterfinal stage.
Then, goalkeeper Jack Komakech kept out Yacoub Djiga’s first penalty before Kenneth Ssemakula scored a decisive kick after Derrick Kakooza, Joseph Kizza Bukenya, Najib Yiga and Ivan Bogere had bulged the net.
Earlier, the Hippos finished second from a tricky Group A behind Cameroon but above hosts Mauritania and Mozambique.
It has been an outstanding and surprising performance for the CECAFA U20 Champions who is at AFCON for the first time.
If Uganda beat Tunisia, they will face first semifinal winner between Ghana and Gambia in the final.
“They are a tricky side,” Coach Byekwaso said in reference to Tunisia. “They play as a team, they pass very well and they have good and perfect combination plays. They attack and defend in numbers. They managed to oust Morocco but we are as good equally.”
“At this level where we are now, whoever can utilise his chances will take the day.”
Like stated above, Tunisia eliminated Morocco in quarter final shootouts. They finished the group as one of the two third-placed finishers.
The 1987 quarter finalists, are in the tourney for a seventh time and have so far kept three clean sheets in the four games played so far.
Byekwaso added: “We need to fight because its now in our DNA. We have to work so hard to see that we don’t give them more room to have the ball so much.”
Byekwaso added that Steven Sserwadda will be fit for the game despite the young starlet having suffered with a minor knock recently.
Probable Lineups:
Uganda Hippos – Jack Komakech, Aziz Kayondo, Musa Ramathan, Gavin Kizito Mugweri, Kenneth Ssemakula, Steven Sserwadda, Isma Mugulusi, Ivan Asaba, Richard Basangwa, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Samuel Ssenyonjo
Tunisia – Elias Damergy, Adam Benlamne, Hamdi Abidi, Mootez Zaddem, Zied Bierrima, Mohamed Guesmi, Abdallah Amri, Marc Lamiti, Chihebi Labidi, Mohamed Zghada, Hassan Ayari
How To Watch – The matches are broadcast live on KBC (StarTimes and DSTV) and ZBC 2 (Azam TV).
You can listen to radio commentary on 102.1 FUFA FM.
Follow live text updates on The-SportsNation social media pages.
A live YouTube link will be shared on our socials minutes to kickoff.
