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The Uganda National Under-20 Football Team, the Hippos have missed out on 2023 FIFA World Cup U-20 qualification in Indonesia.
This is after they lost 1-0 to Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the AFCON U20 Championship game played on Thursday evening in Egypt.
An Ibrahim Juma own-goal in the opening half was enough for Uganda to face Elimination from the tournament and hence fourth missed out on one of the four African slot at the upcoming World Cup. The Ugandan leftback was unfortunate to score into his own net as Ibrahim Beji Muhammad’s shot rattled the bottom post to return into play and bounce off Juma.
Apart from Juma’s own-goal, the game was played in a cagey manner as both sides struggled to create enough goalscoring chances upfront.
Uganda’s best goalscoring chances came early on in the opening half when Ivan Irinimbabazi rose highest to head in a well driven Rogers Mugisha’s corner kick, but Nigerian goalkeeper wonderfully parried away the attempt.
The 1-0 results means Nigeria joins Senegal as the first two African teams that have so far qualified to the World Cup. Senegal defeated Benin 1-0 earlier on in the day to secure their slot.
It’s now the end of journey for Uganda who finished as runners-up to Ghana at the 2021 Championship in Mauritania.
