Uganda’s Under-20 men’s national team head coach Matia Lule says their meeting with Tanzania in the semi-finals of the CECAFA Championships will be a final before a final, with the winner of the match set to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Uganda played at the 2021 showpiece of the Championship and reached the final, losing to Ghana, and they are seeking a return after missing the 2023 competition.
Lule knows it will be a tough call, especially playing against the host nation, but he has rallied his charges to give a good account of themselves in their quest for qualification.
Lule told Telecomasia.net just after their final training session heading to match day:
We are playing against the hosts, and we know this will be a tough match. For us, this is not just a semi-final, but a match that will give us a ticket to the Cup of Nations. This means a lot to us. Everyone knows what it means, and we are going all out to get this.
Uganda finished top of their group with a 100 percent record and face a Tanzanian side that finished second in Group A. Lule says they have watched the Tanzanians play, and they will not underrate them, especially because of the expected home support they will get.
