Ahead of the Uganda Hippos’ crucial semifinal clash against Tanzania, head coach Matia Lule has expressed confidence in his team’s determination to secure a place in the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking ahead of the game, Lule emphasized that his team is treating the match not just as a semifinal but as a direct qualification battle.
“We don’t look at this as a semi-final. We look at it as a qualifying game to the U20 AFCON,” Lule stated. “We are going all out to see that we get the result. We want to be at the U20 AFCON next year.”
Despite facing the hosts in a high-pressure match, Lule remains focused on getting the win and securing Uganda’s third consecutive U20 AFCON appearance.
“Yes, we are facing the home team, but we are going to fight for the win,” he affirmed.
The coach also acknowledged two injuries in the squad but reassured that the depth of the team would be enough to handle the challenge.
“We have two injuries in the team, but we have a big enough group which is good enough to fight for the win today,” Lule said.
With a spot in the U20 AFCON Finals and next year’s tournament on the line, Uganda will be looking to deliver a strong performance in today’s semifinal match against Tanzania.
