Uganda revived its FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification hopes after bouncing back from a crushing opening defeat to Morocco with a commanding 3-0 victory over neighbors Tanzania on Matchday 2 of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
The match, played at Bashir Mohammedia Stadium, saw Uganda walk off with their heads held high after an impressive performance.
The first half ended goalless, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. However, Uganda found a breakthrough in the 61st minute when Simon Wanyama opened the scoring.
With just five minutes left in regulation time, Richard Okello doubled Uganda’s lead in the 85th minute, setting the stage for a convincing victory. The final blow came when Tanzanian defender Mohammed Makarani handled the ball inside the box, awarding Uganda a penalty. James Bogere confidently converted the spot-kick, sealing the 3-0 win.
Bogere, who was named Man of the Match, expressed his gratitude to his teammates and coaches.
“I am happy that my teammates did what the coaches told us to do,” Bogere said.
Brain Ssenyondo, Uganda’s head coach, praised his team for their strong performance, emphasizing that their success was driven by character.
“We presented ourselves in the best way,” Ssenyondo stated.
Meanwhile, in the other group match, Morocco and Zambia played to a goalless draw, leaving both teams tied on four points each. Uganda now sits in third place with three points, while Tanzania remains at the bottom of the group.
Uganda will play their final group-stage match against Zambia on Sunday, April 6, 2025. A victory in this crucial game will secure Uganda’s spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
