![Uganda Hippos captain Isma Mugulusi (left) dribbles past a Nigerian defender during the U-20 AFCON quartefinal match on March 2. Hippos lost 0-1](https://i0.wp.com/www.ugstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mugulusi-against-Nigeria.jpg?resize=480%2C435&ssl=1)
Uganda Hippos captain Isma Mugulusi (left) dribbles past a Nigerian defender during the U-20 AFCON quarterfinal match on March 2. Hippos lost 0-1
Uganda’s under-20 national football team, the Uganda Hippos, bowed out of the Africa Cup of Nations (U-20 AFCON) on Thursday, March 2 after losing 0-1 to their Nigerian counterparts, the Flying Eagles, in the quarterfinal match played in Ismailia, Egypt.
A deflected goal off defender Ibrahim Juma handed the Nigerians the semifinal place and also earned a slot the forthcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals.
The defeat ended the Uganda Hippos’ campaign for both the Africa crown and World Cup dreams.
To reach the quarterfinals, the Hippos finished top of Group C after beating the Central African Republic (CAR) 2-1 and drawing with Congo Brazzaville (2-2) and South Sudan (0-0).
The Ugandan youngsters were losing finalists to Ghana (0-2) in the 2021 U-20 AFCON tournament held in Mauritania.
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