Uganda Hippos 4-1 Tunisia
Derrick Kakooza netted a hat-trick as Uganda Hippos sailed to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-1 win past Tunisia at Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya in Mauritania on Monday night.
Richard Basangwa scored the other goal for the Hippos that will face-off with Ghana in the final slated for Saturday 6th February 2021.
Ghana edged out Gambia (1-0) in the other semifinal to reach the final stage.
Basangwa drew first blood in the game in just four minutes when he received Gavin Kizito’s cross, turned his marker Muhammed Aziz, and fired a low drive beating custodian Elias Damergy on the far post.
32 minutes later, Basangwa turned provider for the second goal. The Vipers SC forward outpaced his marker from the left and laid a swift pass meeting Kakooza who pounced home an easy tap-in.
On the 39th minute, Adam Karim Binlamine cut on the deficit when he tapped in a rebound off custodian Jack Komakech’s spilled ball from a corner kick.
Uganda would have restored their lead at the stroke of halftime but Isma Muguluusi’s distant stunner razed off the woodwork and the Hippos broke off with a slim 2-1 lead.
With five minutes into game restart, Bobos Byaruhanga released a long aerial ball that met Kakooza well positioned for the Police talisman to head over Damergy who was caught off the line for Uganda’s third goal.
After 73 minutes, Kakooza put an icing on the cake when he raced onto Basangwa’s through ball and beat his marker to clinically creep a shot unger goalie Damery completing his hat-trick.
Kakooza’s sublime show earned him the eventual man of the match honor in the aftermath and took his goal tally to five, atop the scorers’ chart.
Uganda will face Ghana in a repeat of the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final when the two senior teams met at Accra Sports Stadium. The hosts walked away with a 2-0 win
Team Lineups
Uganda Hippos
Jack Komakech (GK), Gavin Kizito, Aziz Kayondo, Musa Ramathan, Gavin Kizito, Kenneth Ssemakula, Steven Sserwadda, Isma Mugulusi, Najib Yiga, Richard Basangwa, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Derrick Kakooza
Tunisia
Elias Damergy (GK), Adam Karim Benlamine, Mootez Zaddem, Zied Berrima, Mohamed Aziz Guesmi, Abdallah Amri, Marc Martin Lamti, Chihebi Labidi, Mohamed Zghada, Hassan Ayari, Nabil Makni.
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