AFCON U20:Kakooza impresses as clinical 🇺🇬Hippos book final berth with emphatic victory over Tunisia

Uganda Hippos sealed their place in the final of the International Champions Cup with a 4-1 win over Tunisia at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott,Mauritania on Monday to book a date against Ghana in Saturday’s final.

The Ugandan Hippos did not show any signs of stage fright despite this being their first ever time at the tournament and were taking the Tunisians by the horns from the opening minute.

Vipers SC forward Richard Basangwa broke the deadlock for the Hippos in the fourth minute with a brilliant half volley strike after picking up a cross from the left, took a deft touch to rope it over Mohamed Aziz Guesmi’s reach before rifling a low shot into the net.

Basangwa’s left foot and pace continued to cause all sorts of problems for the Tunisians but the unexpected change of Ivan Bogere replacing the injured Najib Yiga who had started as one of the three-man Hippos midfield necessitated a change in shape for the Hippos.

But despite the change in strategy, they were still on top of their game and pressed Tunisia into committing mistakes as Byekwaso’s impressive boys worked very hard and ran all over the pitch, closing down the spaces for the North Africans.

Derrick Kakooza extended the Hippos lead after 36 minutes and it was Richard Basangwa who hurt the Tunisians again as picked up the ball on the left, drove into the box before cutting back a cross that Kakooza gleefully tapped into an empty net for his third of the tournament.

Tunisia pulled one back and reduced the deficit just two minutes on the turn when Benlamine tapped into the net from close range after Uganda Hippos custodian Jack Komakech had pushed Chiheb Labidi’s flick off a Zied Berrima corner against the upright.

Uganda almost snapped back their two goal advantage a minute to the break when Bobosi Byaruhanga pinched the ball off the Tunisians in midfield before playing Isma Mugulusi through but the midfielder’s ferocious shot coming off the bar with keeper Elias Imed left rooted to his spot.The CECAFA region champions led 2-1 at the break.

Tunisia made changes at the front at the start of the second half with Nabil Makni coming off for Hamdi Abidi.The substitute almost came in with a bang just a minute after coming on, his towering header off Mohamed Amine Ben Zghada’s cross from the left going inches over.

But the Hippos got themselves back in comfortable space just two minutes later with Kakooza scoring his second goal with a looping header after his run behind the defense was picked out by the impressive Byaruhanga.

And with a comfortable two-goal margin, the Hippos eased the pressure with the Tunisians looking lost for answers. A good interchange of passes at the edge of the box almost saw Uganda score a fourth, but Bogere’s shot after a backheel flick from Steven Sserwadda went over.

Tunisia tried to find their way back into the match and they were inches close in the 71st minute but were denied when Musa Ramathan cleared off the line. Keeper Komakech had been beaten by Abidi as he came out to pick a cross, but the substitutes header was cleared before it crossed the chalk.

Off the resultant corner, Uganda were away on the counter attack and they made it 4-1, putting the game to bed. Skipper Gavin Kizito looped the ball forward and Bogere controlled and put Kakooza through, the forward striding through on goal to slide in the fourth and his fifth of the tournament as Uganda took control of the tempo of the game, calming down the pace and managing the time well.

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