Manager of the Uganda Under-20 national team, Jackson Mayanja, has refused to categorise South Sudan as a small team following their exploits at the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The Bright Stars secured their first-ever win in their maiden tournament against Central African Republic on Thursday, and such feat will spur them on to seal qualification when they face the Ugandans.
It leaves Mayanja’s team in a very tough position with just one point separating them and South Sudan heading into Sunday’s crunch Group B game in Ismaila.
“People should not think South Sudan is a small nation in football but the team is a good team so we’re taking them as a very serious team,” Mayanja said on the CAF website.
“We should take South Sudan as a nation which qualifies in their true colours.
“In this process where every game is very, very vital for the team and all the teams in the tournament.
“For us, we handle the game as it comes because we are on four points and we need qualification against South Sudan,” he added.
2️⃣ games
2️⃣ first-half goals
2️⃣ second-half goals🇺🇬 Perfectly balanced ⚖️#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 | @OfficialFUFA pic.twitter.com/lY9NB9SXeo
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 26, 2023
Inspite of the tricky situation Uganda find themselves, Mayanja stated he is not bowing to pressure.
“I’m not the type of coach who has pressure from the game of football like I said if you have pressure in this beautiful game as a coach then you better retire from this game immediately,” he continued.
“This is the situation you always have in the tournament but if you have pressure I’m sorry.
“For me this is a game that doesn’t put me under pressure but although this is the kind of thing which happens that is why i always tell my players don’t put pressure on yourself.”
The other Group B game will see Congo and bottom team Central African Republic take on each other at the Cairo International Stadium.
