AFCON U-20 Qualifiers:
- First Leg: (Saturday, 31st March 2018): Uganda Hippos Vs South Sudan – At Lugogo, Kampala
- 2nd Leg (20th – 22nd April 2018): South Sudan Vs Uganda Hippos – Juba
Uganda U-20 national football team (The Hippos) will face South Sudan in the first leg of the two-legged AFCON U-20 qualifiers at Lugogo on Saturday.
Since last week, the team has been training under head coach Mathias Lule, assistant James Odoch and Samuel Kawalya as the goalkeeping coach.
Lule, also assistant coach to Uganda Cranes head coach Sebastien Desabre, asserts that he is impressed by the team’s preparations and progress.
He noted;
We have been training since last week. The players are now used to the playing surface at Lugogo. We have been of late tested out and polished partnerships of players.
The former Stand F.C coach in Tanzania top flight football has hope and confidence in the pool of players available.
I am pretty sure that we shall perform well in the two legs against South Sudan and qualify as well. We had a pool of 33 players who have since reduced to 25 that went to the camp.
Most of these players have been together since the U-17 days and that bond will provide the necessary team chemistry
Team Leaders:
At the start of the week, Lule confirmed KCCA utility player Julius Poloto as the team captain and his deputy as Proline’s Musitafa Mujjuzi.
“Poloto has good leadership skills and possesses the will power to win at all times. He will inspire the rest of his teammates” Lule said of the former Kasawo and Kibuli S.S student.
The team entered residential camp at the African Bible University in Lubowa, off Kampala – Entebbe road (near Roofings Company) on Monday.
They drew two-all with Uganda Premier League side, Proline on Tuesday at Lugogo during a warm up game.
Meanwhile, South Sudan delegation is expected to arrive at Entebbe on Thursday morning.
Uganda will host the first leg on Saturday, 31st March 2018 as the return leg will take place a week later in Juba.
The successful winner over the two legs will face Cameroon at the next stage of the qualifiers.