Uganda U20 Men’s National Football Team (Uganda Hippos) put up a scintillating performance to make a good start to their expedition at the African Games 2023.
The Uganda Hippos showed bravery to overcome Nigeria 2-1 in a group B game played on Thursday at Accra Sports Stadium.
Arafat Usama Kizza and Ivan Irinimbabazi scored a goal each for Uganda while Nigeria got their consolation goal through winger Sadiq Muhammad Isiyaka.
Uganda came out of the blocks first, troubling Nigeria’s backline in the opening five minutes.
Jonah Patrick Kakande and Abasi Kyeyune were lively on either wing with Usama playing behind Bruno Bunyaga who was the central striker for Uganda.
Seven minutes into the game, floodlights on one of the pillars went off and this caused a temporary halt but the referee ordered for a restart after two minutes.
Nigeria got the first realistic chance of the game in the 10th minute with Isiyaka dribbling past Ibrahim Juma and Ronald Madoi to set up Charles Agada who shot direct at goalkeeper Abdu Magada.
On the other hand, Uganda kept knitting short passes in order to find an outlet.
Abasi Kyeyune came close twice to finding the breakthrough, first in the 23rd minute but his effort from outside the box was feeble. The other was a free header when Allan Oyirwoth’s pass found him unmarked.
It was Usama who opened the scores three minutes after the half hour mark with a clinical finish from close range off a great counter attack.
Oyirwoth started the counter attack from his own half and went beyond the centre line before releasing a long pass that set Usama through on goal.
The lead however, lasted just two minutes with Nigeria finding the equalizer through Isiyaka.
Poor marking in a corner kick situation saw Isiyaka dash to the near post and node the ball into the back of the net.
After restart, Nigeria started the better side, getting chance after chance but failed to break a resilient Ugandan defence.
When Uganda, settled after ten minutes, the tides changed and the Hippos had more of the possession and clear cut chances.
Kyeyune had a low shot at the near angle but the Nigerian goalkeeper saved it.
Bruno Bunyaga arrived a slightly late to miss Kyeyune’s well delivered cross while Usama faced with an empty net failed to find the target.
Coaches from both Uganda and Nigeria, sought for new altrernatives, bringing on players from the bench.
For Uganda, the first substitution was a forced one with Ronald Madoi suffering an injury in the 71st minute and was replaced by Cyrus Kibande.
With nine minutes to play, Irinimbabazi scored a scorcher with his strike fron distance finding its way to the back of the net.
A good exhange of passes, saw Usama play a cut back to Irinimbabzi who took a ferocious low strike into the left bottom corner.
Uganda’s Coach Morley Byekwaso made tactical changes towards the end of the game with Hakim Mutebi replacing Patrick Kakande, Alpha Thiery Ssali coming on in place of Usama while Innocent Kisolo replaced Abasi Kyeyune.
Uganda eventually held on to claim victory and start the tournament on a perfect note.
Uganda leads Group B on three points, same as Senegal who won 1-0 against South Sudan.
The Uganda Hippos will return to action on Monday, 11th March 2024 against Senegal.
Uganda Hippos Starting XI
Abdu Magada (GK), Haruna Lukwago, Ibrahim Juma, Ronald Madoi Rogers Torach (C), Ivan Irinimbabazi, Abasi Kyeyune, Allan Oyirwoth, Bruno Bunyaga, Arafat Kizza Usama, Jonah Patrick Kakande Hakim Mutebi
Substitutes
Shamulan Kamya (GK), Humprey Oyirwoth (GK), Cyrus Kibande, Apollo Kagogwe, Enock Luyima, Alpha Thiery Ssali, John Innocent Kisolo, Shafiq Magogo, Hakim Mutebi
Nigeria Starting XI
Samuel Friday James (GK), Godwin Ime Sampson, Daniel Demenenge Diaga, Haruna Aliyu, Daniel Kolocho Bameyi (C), Sadiq Muhammad Isiyaka, Charles Adah Agada, Favour Chibueze Izuogu, Alonge Olalekan Ibrahim, Nasir Adeiza, Ibrahim Musa Abdullahi
Substitutes
Nathaniel Ikechukwu, Oludapo Akintola, Ibrahim Auwal, Ibrahim Kehinde, Clinton Ezekiel, Shola Yinka, Abdullahi Rabiu, Sunday Joseph, Ibrahim Idris Sulaiman
