By 
Saturday April 12
- Uganda Vs Gambia
The dream of reaching the FIFA U-17 World Cup is still alive for the Uganda U-17 Men’s National Team, fondly known as the Cubs, who now face a decisive playoff against Gambia for a spot at the 2025 global showpiece in Qatar.
Despite an early exit from the extended 16-team U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after finishing third in Group A, the Cubs have been handed a lifeline. A 1-0 loss to Zambia in their final group match saw Uganda bow out with just three points from three games, missing out on a direct ticket to the World Cup. But their journey isn’t over yet.
According to CAF’s revised qualification structure, Africa will send ten representatives to the 2025 U-17 World Cup. While the eight AFCON quarterfinalists have already sealed their places, the remaining two slots will be determined through playoffs involving the four third-placed teams from the group stage.
Uganda will now face Gambia in one of these crucial playoff matches on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco. The other playoff will see Egypt take on Angola in a similarly high-stakes encounter.
The fixture against Gambia poses a significant challenge. Unlike Uganda, who are still seeking their debut on the world stage, Gambia boasts previous World Cup experience, having participated in the tournament twice in 2005 and 2009.
However, the Cubs are no strangers to what it takes to qualify. In 2020, Uganda made history by qualifying for the U-17 World Cup for the first time, only for the tournament to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That missed opportunity still lingers in the minds of many, making this playoff a chance not only for redemption but also for history.
