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 30^th.

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 30^th to April 19^th, 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

Somalia has been included as one of the teams that will feature in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

The Somalian team which finished third in the Zonal CECAFA qualifiers after stopping South Sudan 1-0 in the play-off late last year has been included by CAF together with Gambia from the WAFU-UFOA Zone A.

The CECAFA Zone will be represented by Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia during the competition which runs March 30^th to April 19^th, 2025 in Morocco. The final draw for the competition will take place on February 13^th in Cairo, Egypt.

The expanded tournament will see 16 teams compete, with a record 10 African nations to qualify for the 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup that will be staged in Qatar from November 5-27^th, 2025.

Teams to be drawn

Morocco (host), Angola, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt,     Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania,    Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and one team each UNIFFAC and UNIFFAC.

_{The head coach of Somalia’s U-17 team, Nur Mohamed has said playing at the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been the best ground for exposure for his team.}

_{Somalia, the CECAFA U-17 reigning champions failed to make it to the knock out stage at the ongoing U-17 AFCON in Algeria.}

_{Nur Mohamed’s team kick started the Group A campaign with a 2-0 defeat to hosts Algeria, before they settled for a 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville. Somalia lost their last group match 2-0 to Senegal who have won all their three matches ahead of the knock out stage.}

_{“Playing at the U-17 AFCON in Algeria has been a very good experience for my players because it is the first time all of them were playing at such a stage. The players and we the technical team have benefited a lot playing being part of of such a competition and we shall keep working hard to improve,” said the head coach.}

_{Nur Mohamed made it clear that they lost some of the matches because of lack of experience, but added that the other teams were not far ahead of them. “With this kind of exposure our players are now more motivated to even perform well and qualify for other top competitions,” added the coach.}

_{The President of the Somalia Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed also said although the U-17 team had failed to get to the knock out stage, they had worked hard to try and represent the country well. “We shall keep working hard to make sure we develop and promote all our national teams to make sure they perform well in international competitions,” added the SFF President.}