Uganda Hippos head coach Morley Byekwaso has admitted that he was satisfied with his charges’ performance despite suffering a narrow defeat to Cameroon at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott on Wednesday.
The CECAFA Regional Champions were beaten 1-0 by the young Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, after Sunday Jang Junior scored a delightful header which ensured that the young Indomitable Lions become the first side to book a slot in the quarter finals of this edition’s Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Mauritania.
Speaking after the game , Morley Byekwaso was an impressed man and indicated that he was satisfied with the performance of his boys despite seeing them slip to their first defeat and also added that they lost to a good side.
“We might have lost today but I am satisfied with my team. I think we played very well against a tough and physical team. I played against Cameroon in the 1999 All Africa Games and I know what kind of a team they are and we tried to prepare well with that in mind.”
“In the second half we tried to bring in some light flexible players to try and put them under pressure which we did, but unfortunately the chances we had we could not utilise. That’s the difference in football. I salute Cameroon for winning”
In a tightly contested game at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott the Ugandans started the better side with some swift counter attacking football.
Promising and exciting Vipers forward Richard Basangwa headed over the Cameroon goal in the third minute when he was picked out by his fellow venom Najib Yiga’s inch perfect delivery.
The Lions of Cameroon responded with a counter of their own moments later but failed to trouble the Ugandan defence who cleared their lines.
It was Uganda’s Hippos turn to create some danger when playmaker Isma Mugulusi played Basangwa through on goal, but the forward missed the target with his effort going over the goal after minutes.
Kenneth Semakula then rose highest to an inswing corner before the half hour mark when he was unmarked at the back post, but couldn’t get the effort behind the net.
With the missed chances, Uganda were made to pay when Jang Junior glanced in a corner from the right against the run of play to stun the Hippos who didn’t defend the setpiece well and immediately after conceding Uganda, regrouped again playing through the wide areas and came close to levelling the score twice but Cameroon defended well.
Basangwa tried his luck from distance ten minutes after the break but his effort went wide off the Lions goal. The Hippos continued to pile pressure on the Cameroon defence, who stood tall all the time.
Substitute Ivan Asaba brushed the outside of the Cameroon goal with a stupendous strike, after skipping away from a couple of challenges before firing against the woodwork.
The closing period of this clash was an open affair with the two sides playing direct but eventually Sunday Jang’s delightful header was enough to separate the two sides and Cameroon walked off the pitch with the victory and also booked their place in the quarter finals of the biennial tournament.
Meanwhile, Uganda will have to wait for their final group game stage against hosts Mauritania and a win for the Hippos will be enough to propel them to the quarter finals of the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in their maiden appearance while a loss would mean fate is out of their hands as far as progressing to the quarter finals is concerned
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