Ivory Coast seek impressive third straight win at U17 AFCON

Ivory Coast will attempt to complete a perfect group-stage campaign at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations when they face Uganda in their final Group B match on Tuesday in Rabat.

Already on the verge of securing qualification for the quarter-finals, the young Elephants now turn their attention to maintaining momentum and finishing top of the group before the knockout stage begins.

The match will take place at Field 11 of the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat, Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM local time, corresponding to 4:00 PM GMT.

Supporters across Africa and beyond will be able to follow the encounter live through several broadcasters, including beIN Sports, Canal+, SuperSport, Azam TV and SABC Sport. The game will also be available through CAF TV on the Confederation of African Football’s official YouTube channel.

Ivory Coast approach the fixture in a strong position after winning their opening two matches of the tournament.

The Elephants began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon before following it with another success, defeating DR Congo 1-0.

Those results placed the Ivorians at the top of Group B with six points and effectively secured qualification for both the quarter-finals and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Their disciplined defensive displays and ability to manage important moments during matches have been among the key reasons behind their impressive start to the competition.

The team now has the opportunity to finish the group stage with maximum points, a result that would further strengthen confidence ahead of the knockout rounds.

Uganda, meanwhile, enter the final group match under considerably more pressure.

The Cranes opened their campaign in impressive fashion with a commanding 3-0 victory against DR Congo, a result that immediately boosted their hopes of qualification.

However, their momentum was interrupted by a narrow 1-0 defeat against Cameroon in the second round of matches.

That loss left Uganda in third place in Group B, level on points with Cameroon and still fighting to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

For the Ugandan side, Tuesday’s match therefore represents a major opportunity to revive their ambitions and potentially finish among the top teams in the group.

The encounter also carries added significance given the recent history of both nations at youth level.

No official match has previously been recorded between the Ivory Coast and Uganda U17 teams, making this their first competitive meeting in the category.

At the previous edition of the tournament in Morocco in 2025, both countries reached the competition together for the first time.

Uganda’s campaign ended during the group stage after finishing third in Group A, while Ivory Coast went on to secure third place overall.

That contrast in recent tournament experience adds another interesting dimension to Tuesday’s contest.

Ivory Coast will attempt to continue the consistency that has already made them one of the strongest teams in the competition so far.

Their balanced performances in attack and defence have helped them control difficult moments and maintain their unbeaten record.

Uganda, on the other hand, will rely on the determination and attacking energy that were evident during their opening victory against DR Congo.

The Cranes know that a positive result could completely change the final standings in Group B and secure progression to the quarter-finals.

The stakes are therefore significant for both sides despite Ivory Coast’s favourable position heading into the match.

For the Elephants, finishing as group winners remains an important objective as they seek the best possible path through the knockout stage.

For Uganda, the challenge is even greater.

After exiting in the group stage during the previous edition, the Cranes are now attempting to take another step forward and establish themselves among the tournament’s remaining contenders.

With qualification, momentum and group leadership all potentially at stake, the meeting between Ivory Coast and Uganda promises to be one of the decisive fixtures of the final round in Group B.