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Uganda Rhinos finished the opening phase of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan with a bang, hammering Tonga 12-0 on Monday.
Jefferson Kwikiriza led the scoring with a hat-trick, while Angello Kasumba also struck three times as Uganda put Tonga to the sword.
Kwikiriza opened the scoring after just two minutes before Ivan Kiganda added two quick goals in the 10th and 13th minutes.
Frank Baluku made it 4-0 in the 12th minute, with Kasumba then taking over.
The forward scored three times in the 15th, 18th and 34th minutes, while Kwikiriza completed his hat-trick with goals in the 27th and 29th minutes.
Victor Oqwang, Ian Wafula and Mathias Muwonge also got on the scoresheet as the Rhinos ran riot.
The win came after Uganda had drawn 1-1 with Ecuador earlier in the day.
Kwikiriza gave the Rhinos the lead in the 19th minute, but Ecuador levelled through Jeison Cabeza in the 40th minute.
Uganda had started the opening phase with a 4-3 defeat to Kyrgyz Republic before responding with a 6-0 win over Equatorial Guinea and a 5-1 victory against Cabo Verde.
Kasumba finished the opening phase as Uganda’s top scorer with eight goals. Kwikiriza scored five, while Kiganda finished with four.
Despite the big win over Tonga, Uganda finished third in Group U with seven points, behind Ecuador and Kyrgyz Republic.
The position means the Rhinos move into Tier C for the tournament phase. Teams are not eliminated after the opening phase, with their finishing positions determining the tier in which they continue.
Uganda will now wait for their next assignment in Tier C as their FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival campaign continues.
