Uganda’s U-17 national football team has been placed in what head coach Brian Ssenyondo is calling the “group of death” for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The tournament, scheduled from March 30 to April 19, 2025, serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and Ssenyondo’s side has a clear target: securing a spot at the World Cup.
The team was drawn into Group A alongside Morocco, Tanzania, and Zambia, and Ssenyondo is not underestimating the challenge that lies ahead.
The coach, who will be leading Uganda’s U-17 side to their second appearance in the continental youth competition, emphasized the strength of the teams in their group.
“I would say it is a group of death because all the teams are very hard,” said Ssenyondo following the draw at the CAF headquarters in Cairo.
“But we started this journey with just one target, which is to qualify for the World Cup, and we will give it our all to see to it that at the end of the matches in the group, we are through to the World Cup.”
Ssenyondo particularly highlighted the challenges of facing the host nation, Morocco, who will have the home advantage.
“We are playing the hosts, who know what it means to qualify for a World Cup,” he added. “The other team is Tanzania, and it’s always a hard one against Tanzania. The opponent we have not read about much is Zambia. They have played in the COSAFA competitions, which makes them a hard opponent.”
This marks Uganda’s return to the CAF U-17 AFCON after their debut in the 2019 edition in Tanzania, where they narrowly missed out on a knockout stage spot despite winning one match and drawing another.
Uganda’s goal is clear – they are aiming for a spot at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but first, they must survive a tough group phase.
