Uganda’s U17 national football team, the Cubs, narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar following a 2-1 defeat to Zambia in their final Group A match at the CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The loss saw Uganda finish third in the group, meaning they must now go through a playoff to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Only the top two teams from each group earned direct quarterfinal qualification and automatic World Cup berths.
The match, played on Sunday at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, was a high-stakes encounter. Uganda began the game strongly, with early attacking efforts from James Bogere, Isima Magala, and Simon Wanyama testing the Zambian backline. Despite the early pressure, Zambia struck first against the run of play when Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu found the net in the 20th minute.
Uganda remained determined and returned from halftime with renewed energy. Just four minutes into the second half, right back Elvis Torach controlled a long ball from Bogere before unleashing a powerful shot that beat Zambian goalkeeper Rogers Simumba, leveling the score at 1-1. Simumba had earlier denied Uganda with a string of saves that kept Zambia in the game.
Coach Brian Ssenyondo’s team pushed forward in search of a winner, maintaining possession and creating several chances. However, a defensive lapse in the 84th minute proved costly. Zambian substitute Billy Daka, who had earlier missed a penalty saved by Uganda’s goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga, redeemed himself with a deflected shot that restored Zambia’s lead.
Despite Uganda’s spirited performance and attacking intent, the late goal sealed their fate, forcing them into a must-win playoff fixture against the third-placed team from Group C. Victory in that match would secure one of the two remaining African slots for the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Elsewhere in Group A, hosts Morocco showcased their dominance with a 3-0 victory over Tanzania. The win ensured that Morocco topped the group with nine points, while Tanzania exited the tournament with just a single point. Uganda, having shown promise throughout the group stage, will now need to refocus quickly for their crucial playoff clash to keep their World Cup journey alive.
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