2025 AFCON U-17 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers | Boys | Group B
- Uganda 1-2 Tanzania
Uganda’s U-17 boys team, the Cubs will have to dig deep for a semifinal place at the AFCON U-17 CECAFA qualifiers after a 2–1 defeat to Tanzania on Friday night.
Under the Dire Dawa Stadium lights, the Cubs started brightly. Fahad Ismail calmly tucked away a 15th-minute penalty to give Uganda early control.
But Tanzania hit back quickly. Didmas Athanasi punished a defensive mistake 11 minutes later to level the match.
The game turned into a tense, physical contest with both teams searching for the breakthrough.
Tanzania found it early in the second half when Soann Shabani beat the Ugandan goalkeeper to complete the comeback.
The win pushed Tanzania to nine points and confirmed their place in the semifinals before their final group match against Burundi.
Uganda remain second on six points, still in contention but now facing one last crucial test.
Only two teams, Tanzania and hosts Ethiopia, have sealed their semifinal spots.
Uganda will try to join them when they face Djibouti on Thursday in Addis Ababa. A win sends the Cubs through and keeps their AFCON return alive.
With three AFCON U-17 slots available from the CECAFA region, Uganda still have everything to fight for.
