By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Uganda and Tanzania have completed the line-up for the semi-final stage of the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship 2023 ongoing in Kenya.
After hosts Kenya and Rwanda booked the first two slots in Group A, Group B was left wide open going into the final matches.
Uganda topped Group B after defeating South Sudan 2-0 in a match played in Kisumu, while Tanzania drew 1-1 with Zanzibar in Kakamega, but qualified on the Fair Playground with fewer cautions accumulated.
At the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium Uganda needed two second-half goals by Richard Okello and Denis Kisiriko to collect maximum points and top the Group. Morley Byekwaso Ochama, the Uganda head coach said he was happy with the performance of the team. ” We now need to prepare well ahead of our semi-final match against Rwanda, ” added Byekwaso.
In Kakamega, Tanzania took the lead five minutes into the second half through Bakari Selemani, but Shenani Ibrahim Khamis leveled matters after 72 minutes.
According to the rules of the competition (regulation 3.6) teams are ranked according to the points, head-to-head, goal difference between the concerned teams, goals scored, fair play, and eventually a toast.
Since the two teams Tanzania and Zanzibar tied with 4 points each and scored and conceded the same number of goals, the Fair Play criteria was used with Tanzania with four cautions and Zanzibar five.
Uganda will now face Rwanda in the first semi-final on December 5th at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, while Kenya battle Tanzania in the second semi-final match at the same stadium. The play-off to determine the third team and the final will be played on December 8th, 2023.
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