Sports 9 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Cubs Eye World Cup Spot Despite Tough U-17 AFCON Group B Draw
Uganda's U-17 Cubs face a challenging Group B at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, pitted against former champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon plus debutants DR Congo. Captain Adrian Mukwanga expresses strong confidence in the team's preparation to advance and secure a return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/soccer/cubs-confident-despite-tricky-draw-5418544
Uganda’s Cubs have landed in a tough Group B for the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place from May 13 to June 2 at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat. The draw, held Wednesday at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, pairs them with 2013 winners Ivory Coast, two-time champions Cameroon (2003 and 2019), and newcomers DR Congo.
Despite the formidable opponents, Cubs captain Adrian Mukwanga remains optimistic. ‘The boys are ready to put up a good performance,’ he stated post-draw. ‘We’ve been in camp for a long time and I can guarantee that we are ready to perform and qualify for the World Cup.’ Coach Laryea Kingston shares the team’s determination to overcome past group stage hurdles from 2019 and last year.
The stakes are high: quarter-finalists gain automatic berths to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, while third-placed group teams enter playoffs for the remaining two African slots. Uganda earned their spot by defeating Gambia in last year’s playoffs after a third-place group finish.
Other groups include: Group A (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia); Group C (Mali, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania); and Group D (Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana). Africa will send 10 teams to the global tournament, fueling the Cubs’ ambition to make history.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)