The Uganda Cubs have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025.

Coach Brian Ssenyondo’s team came from a goal down to defeat The Gambia 2-1 in a play-off played on Saturday at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Ahmed Njundu Kanyi gave The Gambia the lead after only 21 seconds at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.

But the Uganda Cubs fought back steadily to level matters after 14 minutes through James Bogere. He capitalized on a good pass by Elvis Torach and shot past the Gambian goalkeeper.

After the goal the CECAFA U-17 reigning champions Uganda piled more pressure dominating play before they made it 2-1 after 33 minutes. Bogere scored his second goal of the night from close range.

In the second half The Gambia made some changes and threw everything at the Uganda Cubs defending line. But the CECAFA giants stood firm and absorbed the pressure well with goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga also making timely blocks.

The Cubs also created some decent scoring opportunities through substitute Simon Wanyama and Richard Okello, but failed to score more goals.

It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Uganda Cubs booked a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup to take place in Qatar. To reach this stage Uganda lost 5-0 and 2-1 to Morocco and Zambia in Group A of the competition, but beat Tanzania 3-0. It is the first time that a team from Uganda qualifies for a FIFA World Cup event and the first that a men’s team from the CECAFA Zone qualifies for a FIFA World Cup competition.

Africa was granted ten spots at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 to take place Qatar. The other African teams that have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup include; Morocco, Zambia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali. The last slot will be decided in the second play-off match between Egypt and Angola.

Somalia suffered a second defeat at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

After falling 3-0 to Tunisia in their opening Group C match, Somalia suffered a 5-1 loss to The Gambia in a match played at the Ben M’Hamed ElAbdi Stadium on Friday.

Alieu Drammeh netted a hat-trick for The Gambia, while Bisenty Mendy netted another. Somalia’s Liban Kalif Mohamed also scored an own goal at the stroke of half time. Anas Isse Mohamed scored Somalia’s only goal.

Although they still have a match against Senegal, Somalia have failed to progress to the next stage of the competition. They join another CECAFA team Tanzania that has already lost two matches to Zambia and Uganda in Group A.

The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.

Already Burkina Faso who have picked two wins in Group B have secured a place for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. CECAFA reigning champions Uganda Cubs who lost 5-0 to Morocco and beat Tanzania 3-0 will be hoping that they secure a win against Zambia to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Uganda Cubs have stopped a 10-man Tanzania 3-0 in their second Group B match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Smarting from a big 5-0 defeat to hosts Morocco, the Cubs were a different side at the El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia.

The two teams missed some good scoring chances in the first half that ended goalless. Although Tanzania dominated play in the first half, they had 4 shots at goal against Uganda’s 10.

After recess Simon Wanyama gave Uganda the lead after 64 minutes. The goal came ten minutes after Tanzania’s Hussein Ally Mbegu had been sent-off by the referee from Lominson Todihajaniaina.

The Ugandan team continued to push forward and made it 2-0 after 85 minutes when Richard Okello found space and shot past Tanzania’s goalkeeper Abrahman Nassoro.

In the second minute of added time Uganda earned a penalty, and James Bogere made no mistake sending the Tanzanian goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.

Brian Ssenyondo, the Uganda Cubs coach said he was happy with the way his team responded after they lost the opening match to Morocco. “We have been highly attacking today and now we must go back and prepare for the match against Zambia,” added Ssenyondo.

The win brightens Uganda Cubs’ chances of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. On Friday Somalia who lost the opening match 3-0 to Tunisia will return to action in a Group C match against The Gambia.

The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.

The head coach of Somalia’s U-17 team Mohamed Abdulkhadir Sheikhdon has promised that his team will continue fighting on in the remaining matches at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Somalia suffered a 3 -0 defeat to Tunisia in their opening Group C match played at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida in Morocco on Tuesday night.

But Sheikhdon has made it clear that most of his players were not used to the big stage in the opening match, but will re-group and improve in the next matches.

“We are determined to keep fighting in the remaining two Group matches because we know what we should do to be able to progress in the competition,” added the Somalia coach.

Somalia will next face The Gambia on April 4^th in their second Group C match. The Gambia also suffered a 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Senegal in their opening match.

In Group A the other teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda and Tanzania have all suffered defeats. Uganda Cubs suffered a 5-0 loss to hosts Morocco, while Tanzania lost 4-1 to Zambia.

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.