Uganda’s National Under 20 team, fondly known as the Hippos, showcased their prowess, narrowly missing out on the coveted gold medal in a thrilling showdown at the Accra Sports Stadium during the ongoing 13th edition of the African Games. Despite their commendable performance on Friday night, the Hippos faced defeat against hosts Ghana, with a scoreline of 1-0 in the final match, ultimately securing the silver medal.
The climax of the match came with Jerry Afiriye’s decisive strike for the young Black Stars, sealing victory for Ghana and dashing the hopes of the spirited Ugandan team. Despite a valiant effort, players such as Bruno Bunyaga, Abasi Kyeyune, and Usama Arafat Kizza were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities created throughout the game.
This achievement marks Uganda’s highest-ever finish in the history of the African Games, reflecting the team’s remarkable journey. Notably, it was the second time in three years that the Uganda Hippos found themselves unable to overcome Ghana in a continental final, having faced a similar fate in the 2021 U-20 African Cup of Nations Final in Mauritania.
In comparison to their male counterparts, the U20 Uganda women’s team, the Queen Cranes, secured a bronze medal after clinching victory over Senegal in the third-place match. The Queen Cranes had previously suffered a defeat against Nigeria in the semi-finals, making their bronze medal achievement significant in the overall context of the tournament.
With the addition of the Hippos’ silver medal, Uganda’s overall medal tally in the competition now stands at an impressive 18, comprising 4 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and 8 bronze medals across various disciplines.
In team sports, Uganda excelled with three gold medals, two of which were secured by the men’s and rugby teams, alongside a gold in badminton women’s doubles. Furthermore, the team clinched one silver and one bronze in team sports, courtesy of the Hippos and Queen Cranes, respectively.
In the realm of athletics, Uganda showcased its prowess with two silver medals and one bronze. Notable performances included Olympic gold medalist Peruth Chemutai’s silver in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, Halima Nakaayi’s silver in the 800 meters, and Joyce Lalam’s bronze in the women’s javelin.
In boxing, Uganda made a mark with three bronze medals, attributed to Kassim Murungi in the featherweight category, Innocent Tumusiime in minimum weight, and Muzamir Semuddu in light middleweight.
Overall, Uganda’s participation in the African Games has been characterized by commendable achievements across various sporting disciplines, reflecting the nation’s growing prominence on the continental stage.
| Uganda’s Medal Tally at the African Games |
|---|
| Sporting Discipline | Medal |
|---|---|
| Team Sports (Gold) | 3 |
| Athletics (Silver) | 2 |
| Athletics (Bronze) | 1 |
| Boxing (Bronze) | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
