Defending champions Uganda Cubs opened their Group B campaign at the TotalEnergies men’s U17 CECAFA regional qualifiers with a commanding 4–0 victory over Burundi at Dire Dawa Stadium in Ethiopia.
Team captain Owen Mukisa and the impressive Thomas Ogema each scored twice in the first half to give Uganda full control of the contest. The Cubs appeared to be heading for a comfortable rout until Burundi returned for the second half more organised and disciplined, which limited the damage.
The Layrea Kingston coached side did not score after the interval and created only a few clear chances. Ismail Fahad came closest when his rising effort was expertly saved by the Burundi goalkeeper.
Kingston introduced Arnold Kayemba, Ashraf Kyakuwa and Brian Olwa for Thomas Ogema, Nicholas Kawooya and Owen Mukisa, although the changes did not break down the resilient Burundi defence.
‘Before you go into every game, you have to have a game plan and for me I had a plan in the first half where we squeezed them in small areas so they would make mistakes which we executed,’ Kingston said. ‘In the second half the coach on their side did well and I give them credit because they sat back and it became challenging for us. It was a game of two halves and the second half belonged to Burundi.’
Uganda will play Sudan on 18 November, before matches against Tanzania on 21 November and Djibouti on 27 November.
