"We need to win all our group matches" – Kingston targets U-20 AFCON qualification

CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers

Uganda 4 Djibouti 1

Thursday 

Rwanda v Ethiopia 2pm 

Djibouti v Sudan 5pm 

Burundi v Kenya 8pm 

Saturday 

Kenya v South Sudan 2pm 

Sudan v Uganda 5pm 

Ethiopia v Tanzania 8pm 

Uganda Hippos coach Laryea Kingston wants his team to build on its strong start after Uganda opened their 2027 U-20 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers with a 4-1 win over Djibouti in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday.

The Hippos produced a strong attacking display, with Isima Magala scoring twice, while Genesis Odiya and Richard Okello added the other goals.

Magala put Uganda ahead in the fifth minute, and Odiya made it 2-0 just before half-time. Djibouti pulled one back before the break.

After the break, Okello restored Uganda's two-goal lead in the 60th minute before Magala scored again two minutes later to complete his brace and give Uganda a 4-1 win.

Kingston said his players had approached the opening match with the seriousness it required because of the importance of starting the campaign well.

"We treated the opening match with a lot of seriousness and caution because it will determine the kind of momentum we shall set in the competition," Kingston said.

The victory gives Uganda an early advantage in Group B, which also has Sudan and Djibouti. Each team has two group matches, with Uganda's final game against Sudan on Saturday at 5pm.

Kingston, however, wants more from his players as Uganda targets a place at the continental championship.

"We need to go out and try to win all our group matches because we are targeting qualification for U-20 AFCON," he added.

Uganda finished runners-up in the previous CECAFA U-20 qualifiers and are looking to go one step further this time.

The competition has nine teams divided into three groups of three. The three group winners and the best second-placed team will advance to the semi-finals.

Hosts and defending champions Tanzania are in Group A with Ethiopia and Rwanda, while South Sudan, Kenya and Burundi make up Group C.

The Group B winner will play the best second-placed team, while the Group A winner will face the Group C winner.

The semi-finals will be played on September 22, with the third-place play-off and final scheduled for September 24. The two finalists will qualify to represent the CECAFA region at the U-20 AFCON.