The dream isn’t over just yet despite bowing out at the group stage of the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Uganda U17 Men’s National Team, familiarly known as the Cubs are still in the race for a historic spot at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
A painful 2-1 defeat to Zambia in their final Group A fixture saw the Cubs finish third with just three points. The campaign began with a tough loss to hosts Morocco, before bouncing back in style with a convincing 3-0 win over Tanzania. But it wasn’t enough to guarantee a top-two finish and automatic World Cup qualification.
Still, hope lives on.
Thanks to CAF’s expanded World Cup quota of 10 teams, the window remains open. While the eight quarterfinalists have already booked their flights to Qatar, there’s a final lifeline for four third-placed sides: a playoff showdown to determine the last two African representatives.
Uganda’s final hurdle? Gambia.
The Young Scorpions stand in the Cubs’ way, with the two sides set to clash in a winner-takes-all playoff match for a coveted World Cup ticket. On the other side of the bracket, Egypt will take on Angola, both matches scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025, at El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco.
Gambia enters with the experience edge, having previously featured at the U-17 World Cup in 2005 and 2009. In contrast, Uganda is still chasing its first-ever appearance. The Cubs had qualified for the 2021 edition, only for the tournament to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But now, fate has offered a second chance.
Saturday’s playoff isn’t just a match, it’s a shot at rewriting history. The Cubs know what’s at stake, and with belief, hunger and focus, they could yet make their long-awaited World Cup debut a reality.
