AFCON U-17
South Sudan disqualified from U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has confirmed that their U-17 team has been disqualified from the U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which is on-going in Algeria.
Albino Kuek Deng, the SSFA spokesperson confirmed in a communication on April 29th that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had notified them about the disqualification after five players were not eligible in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The MRI, is a noninvasive medical imaging test that produces detailed images of almost every internal structure in the human body, including the organs, bones, muscles and blood vessels. It is used by CAF to determine if a player is eligible to play in the U-17 competition.
“The South Sudan Football Association regrets to announce that our team has been disqualified from the AFCON U17 Algeria 2023 due to the non-eligibility of five (5) players after the MRI test,” said the communication.
Deng explained that the MRI test was conducted on the 26th April 2023 to ensure that all players meet the age eligibility criteria set by the competition’s regulations. “Unfortunately, we received yesterday 28th April 2023 notification from CAF that five of our players did not pass the MRI test and were deemed ineligible to participate in the competition, Although two of the five players were part of the team which participated in the zonal qualifiers and passed the MRI eligibility in Ethiopia last September 2022,” added the communication.
SSFA made it clear that they immediately wrote an official complaint to CAF medical committee against their decision attaching the MRI results done in Juba, in accordance to Article 27.6 sub article (iii) of the U17 regulations. “The complaint was rejected by the medical saying that their first and second readings remains the same,” added Deng.
SSFA say they will respect the decision made by the competition’s organizers. “We apologize to our fans, sponsors, and partners for any disappointment this may cause,” added the competition.
The African Football body further confirmed that after the disqualification of South Sudan, Group C will now have Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, Somalia suffered a 2-0 defeat to hosts Algeria in the opening Group A match at the U-17 AFCON. Algeria’s skipper Moslem Anatouf netted a brace at the match played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
CECAFA teams Ethiopia and Uganda have been handed tricky opponents during the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 conducted on Wednesday.
During the draw conducted at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Three current African stars; Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC and DR Congo), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly and Mali) and Ahmed Belhadji (Ceramica Cleopatra and Morocco) participated in the draw proceedings.
Ethiopia who will be making their debut in the competition have been drawn in Group A alongside the hosts Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
Uganda who played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 have also been handed a tough draw alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and DR Congo.
The CECAFA Zonal reigning champions Tanzania have been placed together with Mali, Angola and Mozambique in Group C.
Morocco will host the CAF U-17 AFCON from May 13th to June 2 with sixteen teams taking part. The best ten teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Sixteen teams divided in four groups will tussle it out in the completion, with 10 qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Last year Uganda secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup he first time by defeating The Gambia 2-1 in a playoff during the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
Group B: Cot d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
The Uganda Cubs will wait to tussle it out for a place for the FIFA U-17 World Cup via the play-offs.
Uganda’s second defeat at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday night to Zambia meant the CECAFA side can only qualify through the play-off.
Going into the match Uganda needed to defeat Zambia to look a place in the quarter final and also secure direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But the COSAFA team defeated Uganda 2-1 in Group A match played at the El Arbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco.
The Junior Chipolopolos scored after 20 minutes through Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu, but Uganda equalized through defender Elvis Torach four minutes after the break.
Substitute Billy Daka made amends after 86 minutes to put Zambia ahead after his penalty had been stopped by the Ugandan Cubs goalkeeper earlier in the second half.
Brian Ssenyondo, Uganda’s coach said that they will now focus on preparing for the play-off next weekend. Uganda will face the third placed team in Group C.
In another Group A match played on Sunday, hosts Morocco stopped Tanzania 3-0. It was Tanzania’s third straight defeat in the on-going competition.
Somalis will return to action on Monday when they face reigning champions Senegal, while The Gambia take on Tunisia in the other match.
The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON which ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.
Head coach Brian Ssenyondo has named Uganda’s final squad ahead of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
The competition that will attract 16 teams will take place March 30th to April 19th, 2025 in Morocco.
Uganda Cubs, winners of the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers are placed in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Tanzania and Zambia.
“We have been preparing well and we travel to continue with the preparations in Morocco before the tournament kicks-off,” said Ssenyondo before the team traveled on Thursday. The team is also expected to have some build-up matches.
The coach made it clear that his major target will be to make it to the later stages so that the team can qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The top 10 teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 to take place in Qatar.
Uganda Cubs will open their campaign against hosts Morocco on March 30th.
Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia are the three teams that will represent the CECAFA Zone at the AFCON U-17 qualifiers.
Uganda’s squad
Adrian Mukwanga, Ashraf Kyakuwa, Trevor Mubiru, Marvin Kabiito (Vipers SC Junior Team), Jovan Nsereko Mukisa (NEC FC Junior Team), Hamza Sengooba, James Bogere, Isima Mulala Magala (Masaka Sunshine FC), Ethan Adeleke Afuga Andreas Oyedele (Bradfield College), Joseph Langol (Paorhinar Soccer Academy), Elvis Torach (Masaka Sunshine FC), Derrick Ssozi (Fort Portal Tax Operators FC), Thomas Ogema, Ashraf Lukyamuzi, Steven Oyirwoth (KCCA FC Soccer Academy), Richard Okello ( Bidco FC Junior Team), Simon Wanyama (Bukedea Comprehensive), Shakur Baggio Lucky Magogo (Namilyango College School), Brain Jjara (KCCA FC), John Brian Owino (Express FC Junior Team), Muhamad Masabo (Lugazi FC Junior Team), Abdul Lukenje Ntege ( Maroons FC Junior Team)
Two teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda and Tanzania have been placed in Group A ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
During the draw conducted on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, the CECAFA Zonal champions Uganda have been placed with Tanzania, hosts Morocco and Zambia. In the final of the Zonal qualifiers Uganda stopped Tanzania 2-1.
The expanded tournament which will feature 16 teams is selected for March 30th to April 19th, 2025. The best 10 teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to take place in Qatar in November.
During the draw conducted by former Mali international Adama Coulibaly and ex-Senegal star Souleymane Camara will act as draw assistants, another team from the CECAFA Zone Somalia was placed in Group C alongside defending champions Senegal, Gambia and Tunisia.
The 2011 champions Burkina Faso are placed in Group B alongside the champion from UNIFFAC, South Africa and Egypt, while Group D has Mali, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and the second team in the UNIFFAC qualifiers.
Group A: Morocco, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia
Group B: Burkina Faso, UNIFAC 1, South Africa, Egypt
Group C: Senegal, Gambia, Somalia, Tunisia
Group D: Mali, Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, UNIFFAC 2
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