Uganda got their TotalEnergies Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Central African Republic (CAR) in the Egyptian city of Ismailia on Monday.
Second-half goals from captain Isma Mugulusi and John Paul Dembe fired Uganda ahead before Boris Gbenou pulled a goal back to make for a nervy finish.
Mugulusi put the Hippos in the lead just after the break before Dembe hit the target in the 74th minute to put Uganda in a comfortable lead in the Group B match at the Suez Canal Stadium.
Gbenou's late strike restored some hope for CAR but the runners-up in the previous tournament held on to win their opening match of the tournament.
The Central African Republic started brightly with Moustapha Djimet leading the line for coach Sebastien Ngato’s Les Fauve.
The Red Star forward was presented with two half chances in the opening minutes of the close match.
The towering youngster saw his low effort saved by Abou Magada in the Ugandan goal before glancing a header wide at the back post.
Man of the Match Rogers Mugisha looked to be the spark in the Hippos' attack, he delivered a cross into the area, but Dembe couldn’t latch on the inviting cross as both sides cancelled each other in the first half.
Isma Mugulusi gave Uganda the lead two minutes after the restart from Rogers Mugisha’s left delivery. The Makedonikos FC striker guided his effort past the helpless Stephane Mauril Abimala.
Ibrahim Juma tested the Central African Republic keeper with a sticking free kick from outside the area, Abimala turned away the keeper for a Uganda corner.
Mugisha continued to pose a threat to the Central African defence with his tricky runs down the left channel for Uganda.
He played in John Paul Dembe who failed to connect with the ball. Titus Ssematimba came close to doubling Uganda’s lead on 67 minutes when his half-volley came off the post.
Dembe made it 2-0 for the Hippos with a neatly taken goal 16 minutes from time. The KCCA forward turned his marker inside out before beating Abimala with a well-taken strike.
Boris Gbenou pulled one back for CAR deep into stoppage time with a brilliantly struck effort past Abou Magada.