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Ugandans celebrate a goal against Burundi
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Dire Dawa
Defending champions Uganda Cubs overcame Burundi 4-0 in their opening Group B game of the TotalEnergies Men's U17 CECAFA Region Qualifiers at Dire Dawa Stadium in Ethiopia. Two goals apiece from team captain Owen Mukisa and the impressive Thomas Ogema gave Uganda a commanding first-half lead, and it seemed the Cubs were heading for a rout until Burundi returned more organised and determined in the second half, limiting the deficit.
The Layrea Kingston–coached boys failed to score in the entire 45 minutes of the second stanza and created only a few chances, with Ismail Fahad being expertly denied by the Burundi goalkeeper when he attempted a high shot.
Kingston made changes in the second half, bringing on Arnold Kayemba, Ashraf Kyakuwa, and Brian Olwa for Thomas Ogema, Nicholas Kawooya, and Owen Mukisa, but the team still could not break down the Burundi defence.
Uganda team that beat Burundi 4-0
“Before you go into every game, you have to have a game plan, and for me, I had one especially in the first half where we squeezed them in small areas and made sure they committed mistakes—and we executed them. In the second half, the coach did well, and I give all the credit to the coach for how he came out because they sat back and it was challenging for us, not like the first half. It became a game of two halves, and I give the second half to Burundi.”
Uganda next plays Sudan on November 18 before taking on Tanzania on November 21 and Djibouti on November 27.
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