Uganda’s U-17 national team had a nightmare start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, suffering a humbling 5-0 defeat to hosts Morocco at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia on Monday morning.
The Cubs found themselves on the back foot from the first whistle, conceding just three minutes in when Ilies Belmokhtar capitalized on defensive hesitation to slot home the opener.
Before Uganda could regroup, Morocco struck again in the 8th minute through Driss Aït Chiekh, who finished off a well-worked team move to double their advantage.
The hosts kept the pressure on, and a VAR review awarded them a penalty midway through the half.
Ziyad Baha Abedlahadj stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, calmly sending Ashraf Lukyamuzi the wrong way to make it 3-0 in the 23rd minute.
Uganda’s defensive woes continued as Morocco exploited gaps at the back, and Belmokhtar grabbed his brace in the 32nd minute with a clinical finish.
By halftime, the Cubs were trailing 4-0, completely outclassed in all departments.
Second Half: Damage Control but Morocco Finish Strong
After the restart, Uganda showed some resilience, trying to regain composure and avoid further damage.
The Cubs had a few moments of promise, but Morocco’s defense remained solid, cutting out any potential threats.
Morocco, however, weren’t done yet. In the 71st minute, Abedlahadj found space on the edge of the box and unleashed a precise strike past Lukyamuzi, completing his brace and wrapping up a dominant 5-0 win for the hosts.
The result puts Morocco at the top of Group A, sending a strong message to their rivals and will be back in action on Thursday, April 3 against Zambia.
Uganda, on the other hand, will need to bounce back quickly as they face Tanzania in their next match on the same day.
Starting Lineups:
Uganda:
Ashraf Lukyamuzi (GK), Jovan Mukisa, Hamuza Sengooba, Elvis Torach, Derick Ssozi, James Bogere, Isma Magala, Richard Okello (C), Steven Oyirwoth, John Brian Owono, Marvin Kabiito
Morocco:
Chouaib Bellaarouch (GK), Hamza Bouhaddi (C), Nassim El Massoudi, Abdellah Ouazane, Ziyad Baha, Amine Ouahabi, Ilies Belmokhtar, Driss Aït Chiekh, Ahmed Mouhoub, Zakari El Khalfioui, Moncef Zekri
Uganda now has a crucial fixture against Tanzania, where they must respond if they hope to keep their AFCON dream alive.
Can they regroup in time, or will this heavy defeat linger in their minds?
