[ad_1]
The Under 20 national team, the Hippos, have less than two weeks to start the next zonal qualifiers of the African Cup of Nations in Tanzania from 22 November to 6 December.
Manager Morley Byekwaso fears his team will have an uphill task even before kicking a ball due to the physical condition of many of the 46 players who entered the field at Njeru’s Fufa Technical Center over the weekend.
“This problem at Covid-19 has not allowed the players to train well, but we have started working to make sure they get back in shape,” Byekwaso noted after testing the players on Saturday.
Hippos are drawn in Group B alongside Burundi, Eritrea and South Sudan in the 11-team tournament where only the winner will qualify for next year’s final tournament.
Last year, the Hippos lost to eventual Tanzanian champions at the tournament hosted in Gulu and Njeru.
Several players who participated at the time such as skipper Gavin Kizito, Ivan Bogere, Kenneth Ssemakula, Ivan Asaba and Steven Sserwadda are again included.
The team also has top-level players such as Vipers champions Bobosi Byaruhanga, Sunday Opio (KCCA) and forward Derrick Kakooza (Police).
Byekwaso is expected to cut the squad to 28 players by tomorrow and another eight by the end of the week.
Afcon U-20 qualifiers
Guest: Tanzania
Date: November 22 – December 6
Group A Group B
Tanzania Uganda
Rwanda Burundi
Somalia Eritrea
Djibouti, South Sudan
Group C
Ethiopia
Kenya
Sudan
.
[ad_2]
Source link
