Uganda withdraw from U23 AFCON qualifiers over funding crisis

Uganda have withdrawn their Under-23 national team from the 2026 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifiers after citing a lack of funds to support the team’s participation.

The East African nation had been scheduled to face Ethiopia in a two-legged qualifying tie between 20 September and 6 October 2026, but the fixtures will no longer take place following Uganda’s decision to pull out of the competition.

The withdrawal comes as a significant setback for Uganda’s youth football programme, with the federation indicating that financial constraints made it impossible to facilitate the team’s involvement in the qualifiers.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations serves as a crucial pathway for emerging talent, with the tournament providing players the opportunity to compete at continental level while also acting as the qualification route for the Olympic men’s football tournament.

Uganda’s exit means Ethiopia are now expected to progress without playing the scheduled tie, although confirmation of the walkover will rest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in accordance with its competition regulations.

The development also raises fresh concerns over the financial challenges facing football federations across the continent, where limited resources have increasingly affected participation in international competitions, particularly at youth level.

For Uganda, the withdrawal represents a missed opportunity to continue developing the next generation of players on the continental stage, as the focus now shifts to addressing the financial issues that prevented the team from taking part in the qualification campaign.