Tanzania U20 head coach Mario Rivera believes his side’s control in the first half was key to overcoming Burundi and booking their place in Thursday’s CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers final.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe Ngorongoro Heroes secured a 2-0 victory over Burundi at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday, a result that also confirmed their qualification for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.Tanzania overpower Burundi to secure U-20 Africa Cup of Nations slotBoth Sudan and Tanzania, who booked their place in the tourney's final, earned the CECAFA zone’s tickets to the continental tournament.Rivera was particularly pleased with how Tanzania approached the opening half against a Burundi side that had reached the semifinals without conceding in the group stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980651##“We played against a very strong side. They got to the final without conceding, but I thought we controlled the game and we knew how we wanted to play. Our first half was almost perfect,” Rivera said.The Spanish coach acknowledged that Tanzania had to change their approach after the break, with Burundi pushing forward in search of a way back into the contest.Uganda coach rues officiating after Sudan's dramatic comeback to book U20 AFCON ticket“The second half was more of us defending and waiting for counterattacks, but we couldn't score the third one,” he added.Tanzania's ability to protect their advantage was another source of satisfaction for Rivera. The clean sheet continued a defensive record that had seen the hosts keep Burundi at bay after also shutting out Rwanda and Ethiopia in the group stage. Tanzania had entered the semifinals having scored seven goals without conceding.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978712##For Rivera, the defensive performance was less about individual moments and more about the mentality of his players.“We played in the group stage and today, and kept a clean sheet. It says many things about the attitude and performance of my players.”Sudan rally from behind to stun Uganda, secure ticket to U20 AFCONNow the challenge changes. Tanzania will face Sudan in Thursday’s final after the latter came from behind to beat Uganda 3-2 in Tuesday's other semifinal.Rivera expects a very different test from a Sudanese side he regards as capable of hurting opponents in several ways.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978707##“It's going to be a very tough match. They are a strong team, and they can play, defend, run, and counter-attack. It's a very good team, and we have to give our best performance to try to win.”For Tanzania, Thursday is therefore no longer about qualification. That box has been ticked.Anthony Akumu sets ambitious 2027 AFCON target after bitter 2019 snubThe final is about finishing the tournament as CECAFA champions, with Rivera now tasked with preparing his players for a Sudan side that showed its own resilience by overturning Uganda's lead to reach the final.