2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Wednesday
Egypt v Ethiopia 4pm
Ivory Coast v Cameroon 4pm
Uganda v DR Congo 7pm
Morocco v Tunisia 10pm
Uganda’s national U-17 team begins another journey on the continental stage on Wednesday with a demanding opener against DR Congo at the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Cubs return to the tournament for the third time carrying hopes of reaching the FIFA U-17 World Cup once again after their memorable breakthrough generation impressed globally in 2025.
Qualification for this year’s finals came after Uganda reached the CECAFA qualifying final in Ethiopia, where they narrowly lost to Tanzania after an otherwise strong campaign. Since then, the team has undergone an intensive build-up under coach Laryea Kingston, who has prioritised tactical organisation, confidence building and player freedom ahead of the competition.
Kingston believes the players are prepared physically and technically, but says mentality and decision-making will be critical against Africa’s top teams. The former Ghana international has encouraged the squad to play without fear and embrace the experience on the big stage.
Uganda head into the tournament in encouraging form after friendly victories against Mali and Mozambique during their final preparations in Morocco. Those results boosted belief within the camp ahead of a challenging group.
The Cubs have been placed in Group B alongside DR Congo, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, widely considered one of the toughest pools in the competition. Only teams that reach the quarterfinals will secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the importance of every fixture.
Uganda’s squad will be led by several standout performers from the qualifiers. Midfielder Owen Mukisa remains one of the team’s biggest creative outlets after being named the best player at the CECAFA tournament, while striker Thomas Ogema brings attacking threat after scoring four goals during qualification. Henry Muhoozi is also expected to play a key role in midfield.
Their first opponents, DR Congo, are making their debut appearance at the finals after an impressive qualifying campaign in Central Africa. The Congolese side showed attacking quality during the UNIFFAC qualifiers and will rely heavily on leading scorer Delpierot Ntali alongside winger Séraphin Ntantu.
Cameroon are expected to provide another stern challenge later in the group stage. The two-time champions arrive as one of the favourites after dominating regional qualification, while Côte d’Ivoire also carry strong credentials after winning the WAFU B tournament.
For Uganda, the target is not only competing but proving they can continue building a strong youth football identity on the continent.
