Uganda finished their CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers campaign on a high note, beating Burundi 2-0 at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam to claim third place.
The Hippos, who fell to Sudan in the semifinals, managed to bounce back and secure bronze, a result that left head coach Laryea Kingston pleased with the team’s overall performance.
“Burundi was a tough opponent and played very well. They surprised me. They got good results in their group stage, and their match against Tanzania was very tough because Tanzania is a strong side,” he noted after the third-place playoff match.
When asked about the squad’s development and tournament run, Kingston answered with a smile.
“Yes, I am very impressed. We only had three weeks of preparation, and we faced significant challenges, including missing key players due to various circumstances. Some signed with European clubs that wouldn’t release them because the tournament fell outside the FIFA international window.”
While losing key players was a setback, Kingston noted that the technical team had to motivate the available squad to fight for national pride, which they did successfully.
“The players who traveled with us performed exceptionally well. We were unlucky against Sudan, and the result could easily have gone our way. But that’s football, you can’t win every match.”
To many, this campaign might seem like a disappointment because only the two finalists, Sudan and Tanzania, secured spots at the continental finals. For Kingston, however, Uganda succeeded in the broader picture.
“Overall, I am proud of this group. This team has a bright future, and if we keep them together, they will be strong contenders to qualify for and win the trophy in the next tournament.”
