AFCON U-20: Cameroon Beat Uganda to Reach Quarterfinal

Uganda Hippos suffered a 1-0 loss to Cameroon in an epic encounter played at the Stade Olympique, Noukchott on Wednesday 17th February, 2021.

Sunday Njang Junior’s first half diving header was more than sufficient to pilot Cameroon to a quarterfinal stage with six points after two games.

Having won their opening games in the U20 Africa Nations championships, both sides had set an eye onto the quarterfinals slot which was away by just another win.

Cameroon needed only two games to cement their quarterfinal place at the ongoing tournament as they went on the summit of Group A with a narrow win against Uganda.

Uganda Hippos maintained their starting eleven that bagged maximum points against Mozambique in a game Derrick Kakooza and Steven Sserwadda went on the score sheet.

Cameroon took the lead in the 32nd minute through Junior Juang Sunday whose diving header off John Bosco’s hard taken corner kick found the back of the net .

Ten minutes played off the second half Uganda Hippos head coach Morley Byekwaso held a double change to introduce Ivan Ashaba and Steven Sserwada who replaced Najib Yiga and Ivan Bogere respectively as the side searched for an equalizer.

Ashaba imposed high intensity and pressure in the middle midfield as he made great attacks hence giving Cameroon’s defence alot of work to do. Asaba nearly found an equalizer in the 68th minute but his effort went above the cross bar.

Third substitute in Samuel Ssenyonjo also came close to finding the back of the net but his effort was collected by Cameroon’s custodian.

The result means Uganda drop to second in group A as they wait to take on hosts, Mauritania in their last group game on Saturday, 20th February, 2020.