The AFCON U20 Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 2
*Senegal 🇸🇳 Vs Benin 🇧🇯 – 5pm
*Uganda 🇺🇬 Vs Nigeria 🇳🇬 – 8pm
Friday, March 3
*Congo 🇨🇬 Vs Tunisia 🇹🇳
*Gambia 🇬🇲 Vs South Sudan 🇸🇸
Uganda Hippos face off with Nigeria at the Quarterfinals of the AFCON U20 tournament in Egypt.
The winner of this tie, just like the other three quarterfinals, will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia later this year.
The Hippos were beaten at the AFCON final in the previous edition and had done enough to qualify for the World Cup, but the tournament was called off due to Covid-19.
And the game against Nigeria hands the Hippos a second bite on the cherry.
“We want to write history in Ugandan football,” said Uganda Hippos coach Jackson Mayanja.
“We’re very prepared as a team and this is the most important time for my team to make sure we achieve our goal and all the players are in good condition they’re very fine.
“I have always said it and I will say it again here. What I want to achieve with this team is to qualify for the World Cup.”
After beating Central African Republic, the Hippos picked back to back draws against Congo and South Sudan to finish the group joint top.
And it necessitated drawing of lots, where the Hippos finished top, to decide the Group B winner.
Against Nigeria, the Hippos will face off with the record winners who have clinched seven titles.
Mayanja added: “I don’t need to know so much about Nigeria even if you go out and look around every player but football is about what you think in the tactical part of it so we’re trying to put ourselves in a very good tactical position.”
“Nigeria is a good team. It’s going to be a very hard game but I think like I said, the achievement we need is tomorrow, that’s what we want to achieve.
“I don’t want to talk about Nigeria. The game is to be played on the pitch on Thursday.”
With one goal to his name, John Dembe Paul should be expected to convert chances up front to give the Hippos a fighting stance.
Experienced and creative players in captain Isma Mugulusi, Titus Ssematimba and Travis Mutyaba, will be tasked to live as advertised on the crucial night.
Winger Rogers Mugisha and defender Rogers Torach will as well be dependable after the duo were named in the AFCON U20 team of the Group Stages.
We Cannot Underrate Any Team – Nigeria
Nigeria coach Ladan Bosso has said that he will take the Uganda seriously ahead of their quarterfinal tie.
The gaffer is quoted by CAF: “We all know that Nigeria has qualified to the quarter-final stage and knowing fully that we have an objective of coming out of this place and the least task ahead of us is to pick one of the slots to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“We’re almost there but it is not yet sealed. We believe and hope that at the end of the regulation time tomorrow we should be celebrating.
“The Ugandan team is equally qualified and they’re our next opponents and we cannot underrate any team.”
Nigeria lost their group A opener against Senegal before beating hosts Egypt and Moazambique.
And are one of the favorites to go all the way.
“The knockout stage if you don’t squeeze through it’s as if you didn’t qualify so we will do all we can do to make sure we go through to the World Cup,” Ladan added.
“We have our strategy and we hope our plan will work accordingly.”
Its strong to note that Nigeria has been at the U20 World Cup 11 times including reaching the final twice in 1989 and 2005.
Probable Lineups
Uganda – Abdu Magada (GK), Haruna Lukwago, Ibrahim Juma, Rogers Torach, Apollo Kakogwe, Ivan Irinimbabazi, Rogers Mugisha, Isma Mugulusi (C), John Paul Dembe, Travis Mutyaba, Titus Ssematimba
Nigeria – Nathaniel Nwosu, Augustine Njoku, Solomon Agbalaka, Daniel Daga, Daniel Bameyi, Rilwanu Sarki, Ibrahim Muhammad, Benjamin Fred, Onuche Ogbelu, Samson Lawal, Olamilekan Adams
How To Watch – Local channels UBC tv, Sanyuka Prime and FUFA tv will broadcast the game live. The game will also be live on Football HD (Channel 225 Dstv)
