Uganda Cubs have defeated former champions France 1-0 to qualify for the knock out stage at the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar.

Going into the last Group K match the CECAFA Zonal champions needed nothing less than a win against the more experienced French team.

After several earlier attempts, James Bogere finished off well after 18 minutes to give Uganda the lead at the Aspire Zone Complex in Doha. He was picked well by skipper Hamuza Ssengoba.

Pierre Mounguengue had a chance level matters, but missed the target in another French attack after 31 minutes. Christ Batola missed another chance again for France five minutes later.

Later Richard Okello was denied after 40 minutes when the French goalkeeper blocked from close range for a corner.

After 68 minutes France’s Tidiane Diarrassouba attempted a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it went wide.

Uganda Cubs continued to defend well and deny the French team chance to create scoring opportunities.

It was all celebration for the Ugandan team after the final whistle that saw them re-write history by defeating the 2001 champions France. The France team went on to lead Group K and qualified for the next stage, while Canada who lost 2-1 to Chile in their last match also qualified for the knock out stage.

The best two teams from each of the 12 groups and the best eight third placed teams qualify for the knock out round of 32. Uganda started the campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Canada, and settled for a 1-1 draw against Chile in the second group match.

The other teams that have so far qualifies include; Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Zambia, Austria, USA, Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Croatia, South Africa, Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, Korea Republic, Korea DPR, Morocco, Germany, Colombia, Tunisia and England

Somalia have been drawn to face Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan and African  reigning champions Tanzania in the Boys category of the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) Head of Marketing and Communication, Andrew Oryada conducted the draw on Monday at the FUFA TV studio in Mengo, Uganda.

Uganda will host the CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal qualifiers December 6-9^th at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, and the FUFA Stadium Kadiba.

Oryada says they expect the Championship to be more competitive compared to the previous qualifiers. “This time we shall have more teams than we have had before with 10 for the Boys and eight for the girls,” added Oryada.

The hosts Uganda are placed in Group A alongside Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and South Sudan.

For the Girls’ category the regional defending champions Uganda are placed together with Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda in Group A, while Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Djibouti are I Group B.

The best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-final stage, the winners will play at the final, and the losers will tussle it out in a play-off to decide who wins bronze.

The champions will win a cash prize of US$100,000, the runner-up US$75,000 and the third placed US$50,000 for each category. The cash prizes go directly towards development of a project back at the winning schools.

Uganda Cubs fought from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Chile in their second Group K match played at the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 on Doha, Qatar.

The Uganda Cubs team dominated play in the early periods of the first half, but were not sharp at goal in a match played at the Aspire Zone Complex on Saturday.

Bruno Torres gave Chile the lead three minutes into added time before the break. Uganda’s goalkeeper mistimed free kick giving Torres time to nod the ball in the next.

The two teams came all out in the second half playing a highly attacking game with each side hitting the woodwork.  

With three minutes of added time substitute Derrick Ssozi leveled for Uganda after a Chile team failed to clear their lines.

It was Uganda’s first earned point at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after losing their opening match 2-1 to Canada few days ago. In the second Group K match played on Saturday France and Canada settled for a goalless draw.

Uganda will now face table leaders and former champions France in the last deciding Group K match on November 11^th. France leads the table with 4 points, while Canada are in second place with a similar number of points, but lower goal difference. Uganda are in third place and Chile bottom.

Uganda has been selected to host the CAF African Football CECAFA Zonal qualifiers 2026.

Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) says that the tournament has been moved from Ethiopia to Uganda.

“We are happy to announce that the regional qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone will now be hosted by Uganda from December 6-9^th, 2025. This is a very important competition to have the youngsters compete at Zonal level for boys and girls and later, and we thank Uganda for accepting to host the tournament,” explained Sseninde.

Ten teams for the boys and eight for the girls have already confirmed participation. The draw for the competition will take place on November 10th at the FUFA Studio in Mengo, Uganda.

Sseninde highlighted that In addition to the competition, CAF’s ongoing Capacity Building Programmes will also take place.

These include the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referee Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme, CAF D License Coaching Course and the CAF Safeguarding workshops.

Teams from the CECAFA Zone have been the most successful teams since the CAF African Schools Championship was launched by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe in 2022.

The inaugural tournament took place in Durban in 2023 with Guinea’s CS Ben Sekou Sylla winning the boys title, and Tanzania’s Fountain Gate School winning the girl’s title. During the second edition hosted by Zanzibar in 2024, Tanzania won the boy’s title, while South Africa emerged champions in the girl’s category.

The third edition held in Ghana this year saw Tanzania defend their boy’s title, while hosts Ghana beat Uganda in the final to win the girl’s title.