Sudan and hosts Tanzania have qualified for the CAF U-20 AFCON 2027 after winning their respective CECAFA Qualifier semi-finals at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Sudan produced a dramatic 3-2 victory over Uganda, with Mazin Taowr scoring the winner eight minutes from time, while defending regional champions Tanzania maintained their impressive form with a 2-0 success against Burundi.
The results mean Sudan and Tanzania will meet in Thursday’s final, having also secured the two places available to the CECAFA region at next year’s continental championship in Ghana. Uganda and Burundi will contest the third-place play-off.
Sudan’s victory was particularly sweet after they had lost 1-0 to Uganda in their final Group B fixture on Saturday, when Amour Munogera scored the only goal to give the Ugandans top spot.
The rematch proved a very different affair, with five goals and the lead changing hands as both sides chased qualification.
Uganda made a flying start when captain Richard Okello opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but their advantage lasted only three minutes before Rudwan Mohamed equalised for Sudan.
The teams went into halftime level, but Sudan struck again just three minutes after the restart as captain Waheed Shandi put them ahead for the first time in the contest.
Uganda responded through Derick Ssozi in the 66th minute to make it 2-2 and set up a tense final quarter.
However, it was Sudan who had the final say when Taowr struck in the 82nd minute to restore their advantage and secure a place in the final.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for Sudan, who had advanced to the semi-finals as the best runner-up after finishing behind Uganda in Group B. They had opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Djibouti before suffering that narrow defeat to the Ugandans.
For Uganda, who had won both their group matches, the defeat brought an end to their hopes of reaching the continental finals.
Hosts Tanzania continued their impressive campaign with a 2-0 victory over Burundi in the second semi-final as they moved a step closer to retaining their regional title.
Juma Abushiri gave the Ngorongoro Heroes the perfect start when he opened the scoring in the 10th minute.
Faraji Kayanda doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute to leave the hosts firmly in control at halftime, and they protected their lead throughout the second period to book their place in the final.
It was a third successive victory without conceding for Tanzania, who had defeated Rwanda 3-0 and Ethiopia 4-0 to finish top of Group A.
They have now scored nine goals without reply in their three matches, with Abushiri and Kayanda both registering their second goals of the competition.
Tanzania are seeking a second successive regional title after winning the previous CECAFA U20 Qualifier in 2024.
Burundi’s defeat ended their perfect record after they had topped Group C with victories over South Sudan (4-0) and Kenya (2-0), scoring six goals without conceding.
The Burundians had been among the most impressive teams in the group stage, with captain Amini Nshimirimana scoring four goals in their opening two matches, but they could not find a way through the Tanzania defence.
The attention now turns to Thursday’s final, when Tanzania will have home advantage against a Sudan side buoyed by their dramatic semi-final victory.
Both teams have already achieved their primary objective of qualification for Ghana 2027, but there will still be regional silverware at stake as the hosts seek to defend their crown.
All matches will be played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Tuesday’s semi-finals results
Uganda 2 (Okello 7′, Ssozi 66′) Sudan 3 (Mohamed 10′, Shandi 48′, Taowr 82′)
Tanzania 2 (Abushiri 10′, Kayanda 33′) Burundi 0
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
