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Jackson Mayanja elated with Afcon U-20 preparations

The Hippos beat Jinja North United 1-0 before edging UPL side BUL FC on a similar margin in the trial matches played in the eastern town of Jinja.

Uganda U-20 coach Jackson Mayanja

Uganda U-20 national team head coach Jackson Mayanja says he is satisfied with his team’s pre-tournament preparations ahead of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

The Hippos have been camping at FUFA Technical Centre in Jeru before moving to Kampala as they prepare for Africa’s finest youth tournament in Egypt.

However, after two weeks of training, the former Uganda international Mayanja reveals his happiness about preparations.

“ The preparations are going well, and I thank the federation for allowing the boys to train in a good environment regarding welfare and everything," he said.

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“We are now back in Kampala, trying to prepare again for the next few days before we fly out for the tournament.”

Mayanja expressed hope for Titus Ssematimba and Travis Mutyaba, who joined camp straight from the 2022 African Nations Championship on Monday.

“ They are not so bad, but their fitness level is not so good, maybe because of long travel from Algeria, where they participated in CHAN,” he added.

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Uganda Hippos are pitted in Group B with Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, and South Sudan.

The East Africans will open their group campaign on February 20 against the Central African Republic.

Jackson Mayanja’s charges qualified for the tournament after they beat South Sudan in the CECAFA regional qualifiers finals held in November 2022 in Sudan.

Uganda will be participating at this stage for the second time, having made their maiden appearance in 2021, where they reached the final only to lose to Ghana.

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The TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations finals are slated for Egypt in February, with each semi-finalist assured of a spot in the 2023 World Cup in Indonesia.

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