Uganda Cubs pitted in tough CECAFA U17 qualifiers group

The Uganda Cubs, defending champions of the CECAFA U17 tournament, have been drawn into Group B of the TotalEnergies U- 17 qualifiers.

The Uganda Cubs will face tough competition in Group B, where they will take on regional rivals Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, and Burundi.

The tournament, which will be hosted by Ethiopia from November 15 to December 2, promises to be an exciting affair, with the best teams qualifying for the African stage and a chance to compete in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The Uganda Cubs will be looking to defend their title, which they won last year after defeating Tanzania 2-1 in the final at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

The team, led by coach Godfrey Ssekibaala, will be confident of repeating their success, but they will face stiff competition from their Group B opponents.

“The best teams will qualify for the African stage, and finally the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” said Andrew Jackson Oryada, CECAFA’s Head of Marketing and Communication.

The CECAFA U17 tournament is a platform for young footballers to showcase their skills and potentially launch their careers on the international stage.

With ten national teams participating, the competition is expected to be fierce, and the Uganda Cubs will need to be at their best to emerge victorious.

The teams have been divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

The semi-final losers will contest the bronze medal match, while the winners will face off in the final to decide the regional champion.

The champions, first runner-up, and second runner-up will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies AFCON U-17 2026.

Fixtures and Venues

The tournament will be played at two venues: Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Stadium in Dire Dawa.