Jackson Mayanja has stressed that there are no underdogs at the ongoing TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of his Hippos’ top-of-the-table clash with Congo in Ismailia on Thursday.
The Ugandan coach led his team to a 2-1 success over the Central African Republic with goals from captain Isma Mugulusi and John Paul Dembe.
Ahead of their Group B match against the Congolese the coach is confident Ugandan will be no pushovers in the game.
“There’s no underdog in this tournament in these big stages you don’t call people as underdogs, and everybody is a favorite because if you stay there training almost one and a half month you don’t just in the tournament and say am an underdog, so everybody is a favorite,” said the former El Masry star.
“We’re prepared to win tomorrow to have an easy qualification to the next round.
“The Congo game as I said is going to be a very tough game, but I think we’re very prepared to make sure this is the game which can make us qualify to the next round. My team and the entire technical staff is looking at that game tomorrow and we’re going to handle that game as a very, very serious game more than even a final.
“Of course, like a team which is trying to qualify for the World Cup we are not going to sit back because I believe in attacking football and what we’re going to do. We want to go and attack Congo until the end, there is nothing to stay back. Modern game is an open game but most importantly tomorrow, we must put Congo in their backyard,” added the former Cranes ace.
“I saw Congo play they’re the same players and technically not a bad team because in Congo their players are all technical players, but I think we have a good quality in my team more than the players from Congo. We have quality players who can do the job the way I want us to approach the game.”
The Hippos finished runners-up to Ghana in the last edition of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania, but the Kampala CC maestro says he feels no pressure.
“I don’t think there’s pressure here because if you have pressure then you must run away from this job coaching me, I don’t have pressure because I know what we do the players must do the same so I cannot have pressure back home no, no its about what we do on the pitch and what do we do with team,” Mayanja emphasized.
“If I had pressure, I wouldn’t talk about the World Cup in the beginning of the tournament.”
Titus Sematimba is one of the experienced players in the Uganda team following his involvement with the local national team at the recent TotalEnergies African Nations Championship in Algeria.
Wakiso Giants FC midfielder is hoping to inspire his teammates to book qualification to the quarterfinals of the 23rd edition of the tournament.
“I’m sure we can make it to the next level of the competition. The mood in the camp is quite good and based on my experience which I got from the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship in Algeria I will use this experience in this team, and we shall make it because our team is strong,” said Titus.
“This is not a match that we can fear, it’s like the usual matches we have been playing. The players are in a good mood and everything is fine and I am sure we can make it because we have no one sick or injured.
“I’m one of the midfielders responsible to push the team further and am sure my touches will help my team go further, not that if we work as a team, we can make it.”
Source: Confederation of African Football