- Morocco 5-0 Uganda
Uganda’s journey in the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) got off to a brutal start as they suffered a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Morocco.
The young Cranes were overwhelmed from the first whistle at Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia where Morocco’s Lion Cubs delivered a dominant performance to announce themselves as serious contenders in the tournament.
It took Morocco just five minutes to break the deadlock, with AS Monaco prospect Ilies Belmokhtar expertly guiding a header past Uganda’s goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi. Abdellah Ouazane provided the pinpoint cross, setting the tone for what turned out to be a long evening for the Ugandan defense.
Before Uganda could even regroup, Morocco struck again. Driss Cheikh doubled the lead less than three minutes later, towering above defenders to nod home from a cleverly worked short corner.
The early goals left Uganda struggling for composure, and things only got worse when Belmokhtar was brought down in the box. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded, and Ziyad Baha made no mistake from the spot to put Morocco 3-0 up inside 20 minutes.
Morocco’s fourth goal was a showcase of their technical superiority. FUS Rabat’s Ahmed Mawhoub initiated a move from deep in defense, dribbling past a Ugandan marker before setting up Belmokhtar, who calmly slotted the ball between Lukyamuzi’s legs. The first half ended with Morocco firmly in control, and Uganda had no response.
Despite a quieter second half, Uganda failed to muster any real attacking threat. Their attempts to play out from the back were thwarted by Morocco’s relentless pressing, and they struggled to find a way past the disciplined Moroccan backline.
The East African side’s woes were compounded in the 71st minute when Baha grabbed his second goal of the match. A misjudged rush from Lukyamuzi allowed Baha to head into an empty net, sealing a five-star performance for the hosts.
The result is a stark wake-up call for Uganda, who must now regroup quickly ahead of their next Group A fixture against regional rivals Tanzania. The Cubs will need to show resilience and tactical improvement if they are to keep their AFCON U-17 hopes alive.
For Morocco, this emphatic victory sends a strong message to the rest of the tournament. With their sharp attack, technical brilliance, and solid defense, the Lion Cubs have laid down a marker as one of the teams to beat.
Their next challenge comes against Zambia, and based on this performance, few would bet against them continuing their winning run.
