Following Uganda Hippos’ spirited 1-0 victory over Sudan in the 2026 CECAFA U-20 Championship at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, playmaker Isma Magala Mulala testified that they sought the right answers during the mandatory half-time break on how to kill off the game.
Magala, orchestrating from the left flank, executed a wonder chip for substitute Amour Munogera before the Vipers’ player composed himself to beat the advancing goalkeeper Mustafa Mohamed Elgadal Fahoud from close range in the 72nd minute.
A graduate from the Uganda U-17 national team, Magala has since admitted that the Sudanese made it hard for them during the opening stanza with their conservative low-block format.
Henceforth, the Hippos completely switched to a new playing strategy.
“They (Sudan) came knowing what we play and were very compact at the back with their low block. As we went back to the dressing rooms during the break, the coaches communicated how we should play and changed the strategy. The results showed as we scored and won,” Magala, who also played at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, revealed.
Magala has already scored two goals for the Uganda Hippos in this championship during the 4-1 victory over Horn of Africa country, Djibouti.
Uganda has now recorded six points in the championship and topped Group B.
Laryea Kingston’s coached charges tussle Sudan on Tuesday, 22nd September 2026, during the first of the two semi-finals at 12:30 PM.
The second semifinal 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 city, Tanzania.
The winners of the respective semi-final contests will progress to the AFCON U-20 finals due in Ghana later this year.
