By 
Uganda’s U-23 national team, the Kobs, will face Ethiopia in the first round of qualification for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The first leg will be played in Ethiopia on 28 September, with Uganda hosting the return leg on 6 October.
The team that comes out on top on aggregate will advance to the second round, where Morocco awaits. The second-round ties are scheduled to be played between 9 and 17 November.
For the Kobs, the campaign presents another chance to chase a place in a tournament they have never reached since the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations was introduced in 2011.
Uganda has made several attempts to qualify over the years but has never made it to the final tournament. Their most recent campaign came in the qualifiers for the 2023 edition in Morocco, where they were drawn against Guinea in the second round but failed to progress.
This time, Uganda must first negotiate a tricky East African contest against Ethiopia before thinking about Morocco.
There is also an added incentive for the Kobs. Egypt have already secured their place at the 2027 U-23 AFCON as hosts, meaning the qualification campaign will determine the other teams that join the hosts at the finals.
The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualifying competition for the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games, putting even more importance on Uganda’s bid to reach the finals.
The Kobs will therefore have a clear target when they travel to Ethiopia on 28 September. A positive result in the opening leg would put them in a good position ahead of the return match in Uganda eight days later.
Should Uganda get past Ethiopia, Morocco will be the next obstacle in November.
The Kobs will be hoping this campaign finally ends Uganda’s long wait for a first appearance at the U-23 AFCON finals.
