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AFCON U-17

South Sudan disqualified from U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023

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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.

AFCON U-17

Uganda Cubs stop Gambia to qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar

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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.

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AFCON U-17

Uganda with last chance to secure FIFA U-17 World Cup place through play-off

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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.

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AFCON U-17

Somalia fails to progress in TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations

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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.

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AFCON U-17

Uganda humbles 10-man Tanzania to pick first win in U-17 AFCON

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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.

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