Uganda Cubs face off against Zambia in decisive U-17 AFCON clash for World Cup spot

Casablanca, Morocco:- The Uganda U-17 national team, popularly known as the Cubs, will tonight face off against Zambia in a crucial Group A match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.

A victory in tonight’s encounter scheduled for 10:00 PM East Africa Time (EAT) at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca could see Uganda secure their place in the quarterfinals and earn them a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup slated for November 2025 in Qatar.

Zambia currently occupies the second position in Group A, level on four points with hosts Morocco but trailing on goal difference, while Uganda sits in third place with three points after a win over neighbors Tanzania in the last duel.

The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the knockout stages and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Teams finishing third in their groups will enter a playoff for the remaining World Cup berths.

Therefore, a win for the Cubs would guarantee progression, while a draw would leave their fate dependent on other results.

Uganda began their campaign with a challenging 5-0 defeat to Morocco but rebounded impressively with a 3-0 victory over Tanzania. Zambia started strong, defeating Tanzania 4-1, and then held Morocco to a goalless draw.

Zambia’s head coach, Ian Bakala, has expressed confidence in his team’s preparedness for the crucial match against Uganda. He emphasized the importance of securing a positive result to ensure progression in the tournament.

This fixture marks the first meeting between Uganda and Zambia at the U-17 AFCON tournament. Uganda’s only previous encounter with a COSAFA region team resulted in a 1-0 loss to Angola in 2019.

Broadcast Information

Fans can follow live updates and coverage of the match through various sports news outlets and official CAF platforms. Additionally, some online platforms may provide live streaming of the game.