Coach Morley Byekwaso has urged his Uganda U18 team to replicate their impressive performance against South Sudan when they face Rwanda in the semifinals of the CECAFA U18 Boys Championship on Tuesday at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.
Uganda secured a convincing 2-0 victory over South Sudan in their final group stage match on Saturday, while Rwanda emerged victorious against Sudan with a 3-0 win on Friday.
“The players demonstrated exceptional character against South Sudan, and we expect the same level of commitment, if not more, against Rwanda,” remarked Coach Byekwaso.
“We’ve struggled to capitalize on our chances in previous matches, but we’ve addressed that issue and are now ready to deliver.”
Uganda topped Group B with six points to advance to the semifinals, while Rwanda finished second in Group A with six points.
In anticipation of a challenging encounter, Rwanda’s head coach, Baptiste Kayiranga, has motivated his players to rise to the occasion.
“We have to work hard if we are to reach the final,” stated Coach Kayiranga. “The boys are prepared to give their all. We aim to surpass our performance in the group stages.”
In the second semifinal, hosts Kenya will face Tanzania at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium. Kenya has maintained an unbeaten record in Group A, winning all three of their matches, while Tanzania finished second in Group B with four points.
Tanzania’s advancement was determined by fair play principles, as they accumulated four yellow cards compared to Zanzibar’s five. Both teams finished with four points and an identical goal difference.
CECAFA U18 Boys Championship Semifinals Tuesday Fixtures
- Uganda v Rwanda, at 11:00am
- Kenya v Tanzania, at 2:30pm
Courtesy Photos
