The Uganda U-17 National Team (Cubs) will take part in the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 draw with a defined structure, as the team prepares to fly the national flag at continental level. The Final Draw will take place in Cairo, Egypt on 08 April 2026 and will be streamed live on CAF TV from 14h00 local time / 12h00 GMT.
Uganda qualified for the final tournament as one of the CECAFA representatives alongside Ethiopia and Tanzania, marking another important milestone in youth football development.
The competition will feature 16 teams, who will be drawn into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-final stage, with all eight quarter-finalists earning automatic qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Uganda has been placed in Pot 3 together with Egypt, Algeria and Tanzania, based on CAF’s ranking system that considers performances in the 2019, 2023 and 2025 editions. The Cubs accumulated eight points, reflecting their steady rise in continental youth competitions.
Host nation Morocco has already been allocated position A1, while Mali will take position C1. The remaining teams will be drawn from four pots to complete Groups A, B, C and D.
Being in Pot 3 means Uganda will face one top-seeded team and one team from Pot 2, alongside a side from Pot 4. This presents a competitive but balanced group scenario for the Cubs.
The journey so far
The Uganda U-17 National Team (Cubs) has continued to register steady progress on the continental and global stage, securing qualification to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations for the third time. The Cubs made their debut in 2019 in Tanzania and also qualified for the 2021 edition in Morocco, which was later cancelled.
The team returned strongly in 2025, where they not only competed at the continental level but also secured Uganda’s first-ever qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. This achievement marked a significant milestone in the country’s football development and highlighted the growing strength of youth structures.
At the global showpiece in Qatar, the Cubs delivered a historic performance, reaching the Round of 16. The team registered notable results, including a memorable victory over France and a disciplined win against Senegal in the knockout stage, before exiting on penalties to Burkina Faso. The campaign established Uganda among the top 16 teams in the world at U-17 level and set a strong foundation for future generations.
The Cubs have since maintained their upward trajectory, sealing qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations following a commanding 3-0 victory over Ethiopia in the semi-finals of the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers.
