Richard Okello, the Uganda U-20 national football team (Hippos) captain, anticipates a tough contest against Sudan in the semifinals of the 2026 CECAFA U-20 championship.
The BUL Football Club winger is perhaps optimistic about a spirited display with a ticket for AFCON-20 at stake.
“We played Sudan on Saturday during the group stages, and they applied a low block that we eventually managed to break. We face them again in the semi-finals on Tuesday. At least, there is an idea about the kind of opponent we shall be facing,” Okello revealed.
Uganda Hippos needed a second-half Amour Munogera goal to break the resilience of Sudan at the Uhuru Stadium. It was Uganda’s second victory at the championship following a comprehensive 4-1 start over Djibouti.
To Okello, the Hippos’ ship captain, he is now already focused on the do-or-die contest against Sudan.
“In the semi-finals, it is winner takes it all. We shall give all that we can as we play Sudan again,” he vows.
Okello was a 67th-minute change for Joseph Ssendyowa during the double change, when also the goal scorer Amour Munogera replaced Genesis Ocen Odiya.
Uganda faces Sudan on Tuesday, 22nd September 2026, during the first of the two semi-finals at 12:30 PM.
The second semi-final pits hosts Tanzania against Burundi at 4 PM.
Both matches, as the rest of the games have been, will be played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar. es Salaam, Tanzania.
The winners of the respective semifinal contests will progress to the AFCON U-20 finals due in Ghana later this year.
