By Denis Turyahebwa
Steven Sseruwadda and Derrick Kakooza’s goals against the hosts Mauritania were enough to lift the Hippos to the quarter-finals of the AFCON U-20 tournament in Mauritania on Saturday night.
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Uganda trailed 1-0 down at halftime courtesy of Silly Sanghare’s penalty spot goal in the 39th minute after Oumar Mbareck had been brought down by Aziz Kayondo in the box.
Sseruwadda who made his first start was quick to level the matters just fourteen minutes into the second half. This lifted the team’s momentum and confidence that saw the Hippos dominate the game in the second half.
This was Sseruwadda’s second goal at the tournament with the other coming against Mozambique in the opener when he came off the bench.
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Kakooza scored Uganda’s second and the winner from the spot-kick in the 88th minute following the hosts’ defender Mohamed Sarr handball inside the area which called for celebrations upon history made by Morley Byekwaso’s boys.
The Hippos Won their maiden game in the competition 2-0 against Mozambique but later lost to physical and talented Cameroon 1-0 which meant that their tie against the hosts was a must-win to advance to the next stage.
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A win meant Uganda qualified with six points behind group A leaders Cameroon who collected maximum points.
Uganda now waits for the final group games in the other pools to know their quarterfinal opponents.
