The Uganda U17 Boys’ National Team, commonly known as the Cubs, has officially kicked off its preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025. The team entered residential camp on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the FUFA Technical Center in Njeru, setting the stage for an intensive training period ahead of the tournament.
Out of the 37 players summoned by Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo, 31 have reported to camp, with six others expected to join in the coming days. The first training session took place on the morning of Tuesday, February 25, 2025, focusing on fitness assessment and tactical orientation. The technical team is carefully monitoring the progress of the players to ensure that the team gels well ahead of the tournament.
Ssenyondo expressed satisfaction with the initial turnout and the attitude of the players. “We are delighted with the commitment shown by the boys so far. The first activities have been mostly about getting them into the rhythm, orientation of players, and assessing fitness levels.” he said.
The Cubs were drawn into what many are calling the “group of death,” alongside hosts Morocco, Tanzania, and Zambia. All three opponents have proven pedigree in youth football, making Uganda’s path to the knockout stage a challenging one. However, Ssenyondo remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
“Our goal remains to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup, and we believe we have the talent and discipline to achieve that,” he stated.
Uganda’s previous U17 AFCON appearance in 2019 saw them collect 4 points in group stages, sitting third on the table thus bowing out of the campaign and this year, the team is aiming to go even further.
In 2021, the Cubs qualified but tournament was canceled due to the resurgence of the Covid19 pandemic.
Arrival
Training Pictorial
