Uganda Cubs coach Brian Ssenyondo acknowledged his team’s tough 5-0 defeat against hosts Morocco in the U17 AFCON, expressing disappointment but also urging his players to learn from the experience and bounce back stronger.
“It was a difficult game for us. Morocco is a strong team, and they punished us for our mistakes. We tried to stick to our game plan, but things didn’t go our way,” Ssenyondo admitted.
Despite the heavy loss, the coach emphasized the importance of staying positive and focusing on the next matches.
“This is a learning experience for the boys. We have to pick ourselves up, correct our mistakes, and prepare for the next challenge. The tournament is not over, and we still have opportunities to fight for a better result,” he added.
Ssenyondo highlighted areas that need improvement, particularly in defense and ball retention, noting that his team must be more disciplined and composed under pressure.
With the Cubs now facing an uphill battle in the tournament, the coach remains hopeful that his young squad can regroup and respond positively in their upcoming fixtures.
Ilies Belmokhtar and Real Betis forward Ziyad Baha’s brace each and other from Aït Cheikh saw Morocco walk away with comfortable victory.
Despite the heavy defeat, the Cubs displayed resilience and glimpses of potential as they gained invaluable experience on the big stage. Uganda is placed in Group A alongside host nation Morocco, Tanzania, and Zambia.
They will now take on rivals Tanzania who has lost (4-1) to Zambia on Thursday in their second game before a decisive group clash with Zambia next Sunday in Casablanca.
The tournament also serves as a qualification pathway for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year, with the top 10 African teams earning slots at the global event.
