Uganda U-17 head coach Brian Ssenyondo has described Group A of the upcoming CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 as the “group of death.”
Ssenyondo, who will guide the Uganda Cubs in the continental youth competition, believes his team faces a challenge in their quest to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The tournament, which will take place in Morocco from March 30 to April 19, 2025, serves as a pathway for African teams to secure a spot in this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Uganda has been drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Tanzania, and Zambia, a group that Ssenyondo believes is one of the toughest in the competition.
Speaking to CAF after the draw, held at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo last week, the former Kitara FC coach admitted the group would be difficult but reaffirmed the team’s ultimate target.
“I would say it is a group of death because all the teams are very hard but we started this journey with just one target, which is to qualify for the World Cup and we will give it our all to see to it that at the end of the matches in the group, we are through to the world cup”, said Ssenyondo.
“We have been waiting for this draw and luckily enough, we now know who we will play. It is not a draw you’ welcome but one you will take. Facing Morocco there as hosts will make the group hard.
“We are playing the hosts who know what it means to qualify for a World Cup. The other team is Tanzania. It’s always a hard one against Tanzania.
“The opponent we have not read about much is Zambia. They have played in the COSAFA competitions which makes them a hard opponent.”
Uganda will be making their second appearance at the U-17 AFCON, their first being in 2019.
During that campaign, the Cubs narrowly missed out on advancing past the group stage after defeating Tanzania 3-0 but falling short in matches against Angola and Nigeria.
