By Musa Kikuuno, Busoga Times
The Uganda U-17 Cubs are on the brink of making history at the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with a decisive match against Zambia on Sunday, April 6, 2025, that could see them qualify for both the knockout stages and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Going into the final group stage match, Uganda sits in third place in Group A with 3 points, just behind Morocco and Zambia, both of whom have 4 points. Tanzania is at the bottom of the group with no points, and their chances of advancing are already extinguished.
Morocco, already assured of qualification, sits at the top of the group due to their strong goal difference and will face Tanzania in the final match. Whether Morocco wins or loses, they will proceed to the knockout rounds. The only question for the Moroccan team is whether they will finish first or second in the group, depending on other results.
For Uganda, however, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Cubs must defeat Zambia to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages. A win would not only secure Uganda a place in the quarterfinals but also guarantee their qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, as the top 10 teams in the AFCON will book their spots in Qatar.
A draw or loss would see Zambia advance, alongside Morocco, leaving Uganda’s World Cup dreams in jeopardy. In such a scenario, Zambia would secure second place, and Morocco would remain top of the group. The Cubs’ fate lies in their hands, with everything riding on their performance against Zambia, who will also be eyeing a victory to cement their qualification for the knockouts.
While Uganda’s journey in the competition still has some uncertainty, the Cubs have shown great determination so far, and fans are hopeful that they can rise to the occasion and secure a historic win.
With only one game to go, all eyes will be on Sunday’s encounter between Uganda and Zambia, a match that promises to be a thrilling finale to Group A. A victory for Uganda could propel them to greater glory, but only if they can conquer their regional rivals in a winner-takes-all clash.
