The Uganda Hippos continued their impressive run in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, storming into the semifinals of the CECAFA region after a commanding 4-1 victory over Burundi.
The match, played at the KMC Stadium in Tanzania on Wednesday, saw Uganda assert their dominance and confirm their place in the last four.
Young forward John Paul Ddembe led the charge for the Hippos, netting twice within the first 22 minutes of the game.
His opening goal came just two minutes after kickoff, followed by a second strike in the 22nd minute, putting Uganda in firm control early on.
Burundi’s struggles worsened in the second half when their player Ramadhan Hakizimana inadvertently scored an own goal in the 58th minute, further extending Uganda’s lead to 3-0.
Although Christophe Ndeyikengurukiye managed to pull one back for Burundi with a consolation goal in the 61st minute, it wasn’t enough to derail Uganda’s momentum.
The Hippos’ victory follows their dominant 3-0 win over Ethiopia in their opening game on Monday at the Azam Complex.
With two wins from two matches, Uganda leads Group B with six points and looks poised to continue their impressive title defense.
Burundi, sitting in second place after their earlier victory over South Sudan, remains in contention.
However, both Ethiopia and South Sudan are yet to earn points as they prepare to face each other in a crucial fixture later on.
Uganda, the reigning CECAFA U20 champions, are strong favorites to win the regional tournament once again.
Should they reach the final, the Hippos will secure their spot in the 2024 U20 AFCON tournament, further cementing their position as a powerhouse in youth football on the continent.
With their semifinal spot secured, Uganda will be keen to maintain their momentum as they march toward defending their CECAFA title.
Coach Matia Lule has been cautious but optimistic about his side’s chances, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one game at a time.
South Sudan is coming next as they hope to seal top spot in Group B.
