Uganda Cubs Captain Reacts To Tough U-17 AFCON Draw

The Uganda Cubs have been handed a challenging path in the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, drawn into Group B alongside former champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

The draw, held on Wednesday at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, also places the Cubs against debutants DR Congo.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from May 13 to June 2 at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat, Morocco. It will feature the continent's elite youth teams competing for both the title and a chance to qualify for the World Cup.

Despite the formidable opposition, which includes 2013 winners Ivory Coast and two-time champions Cameroon (2003, 2019), the Ugandan camp remains optimistic.

Captain Adrian Mukwanga expressed confidence in his team's ability to advance beyond the group stage, a feat they have yet to achieve in their previous appearances in 2019 and 2023.

"What I can tell you is that the boys are ready to put up a good performance," Mukwanga stated after the draw as quoted by Kawowo Sports.

"We have been in camp for a long time, and I can guarantee that we are ready to perform and make sure the team qualifies and goes back to the World Cup."

The stakes are particularly high this year. All eight quarter-finalists will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Additionally, the teams that finish third in their respective groups will enter a play-off round to compete for the final two of Africa's ten available spots.

The Cubs secured their place in the tournament by defeating Gambia in a playoff last year, after finishing third in a group with Morocco, Zambia, and Tanzania. In their 2019 debut, they also placed third in a group that included Nigeria, Angola, and Tanzania.

The draw ceremony was conducted by African football stars Fiston Mayele, Aliou Dieng, and Ahmed Belhadji.

Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia

Group B: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo

Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique

Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana