AFCON U20 Quarter Final | Thursday 2nd March 2023.
Uganda vs Nigeria at Suez Canal Authority Stadium (Time: 8pm)
The Uganda Hippos’ quest to play at the FIFA World Cup continues this evening at the AFCON U20 tournament with a tie against Nigeria in the quarter-finals at Suez Canal Authority Stadium.
The Hippos have a grand opportunity of writing history by becoming the first football team in Ugandan football to play at the global stage.
A number of players like skipper Isma Mugulusi, Ibrahim Juma and Ivan Irinimbabazi who were rested in the previous match against neighbours South Sudan return for the crunch game against Nigeria.
Head Coach Jackson Mayanja reaffirmed the target of the team that is qualifying for the World Cup during the pre-match press briefing.
“From the time I was given the role as Hippos coach, I made it clear that qualification to the World Cup is the goal. We have come a long way and now we’re closer to it. We play Nigeria which is a strong side but we know what this match means to us. It is a game that can turn around Ugandan football, and change our lives, especially for the players.” He said.
Skipper Mugulusi who was with the Hippos in Mauritania and played at this stage vowed to use his experience to lift his side.
“It is a big game against a big nation with history but we also want to write history. We will go all out, leaving everything on the pitch because this is the moment we have been waiting for.”
The last time the Hippos played in the quarter-finals at the AFCON tournament came against Burkina Faso, progressing to the semifinals on penalties.
The winner between Uganda and Nigeria will book a ticket to the U20 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia between May and June this year.
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
