2025 AFCON U17: Ssenyondo confident as Uganda Cubs eye redemption against Tanzania

Photo by FUFA media.

2025 AFCON U17: Ssenyondo confident as Uganda Cubs eye redemption against Tanzania Uganda and Tanzania will both be seeking redemption when they face off in their Group A fixture at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 on Thursday at 8 PM EAT at El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia.

Both teams endured heavy defeats in their opening matches, with Uganda suffering a 5-0 loss to hosts Morocco, while Tanzania fell 4-1 to Zambia. Cubs head coach Brian Ssenyondo acknowledges the importance of this fixture and believes his side is ready to respond.

Ssenyondo: "We Have No Other Chance Apart from now"

Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Ssenyondo emphasized the significance of the match, referring to it as a "derby" given the regional rivalry between the two sides. "They are our rivals, and we both lost our first games. This makes the match very difficult, but we have prepared well over the past days to ensure we present ourselves strongly against Tanzania.

We have no other chance apart from tomorrow, and I believe we shall play very well to get maximum points," Ssenyondo stated.

Despite some injury concerns, he remains hopeful his team can rise to the occasion. "We have a few injury concerns from our previous game, like Bogere, Magala, Torach and Lukyamuzi, and we are waiting for the doctors' final report," he added.

Ssenyondo also addressed the disappointment among fans following the heavy defeat against Morocco but remains optimistic about turning things around. "I know fans back home are disappointed with the previous result, and we are also disappointed, but football gives you another chance. We believe we shall make things right against Tanzania because our target is to qualify for the World Cup."

Players Determined to Make Amends

Uganda forward James Bogere and midfielder Ethan Oyedele echoed their coach’s sentiments, expressing their readiness to fight for a positive result. Bogere, who has faced Tanzania before, emphasized the importance of the right mentality.

"We know Tanzania very well, having played against them twice recently. They are a good side, but we have to come with the right mentality and character. The boys are very motivated, and they know what this match means to us. As a player, I know what I am capable of doing, and I believe against Tanzania, I can do it."

Oyedele also acknowledged the team’s disappointment from the opening game but stressed that the upcoming match provides an opportunity for redemption. "The result against Morocco isn’t something we expected, and it left us disappointed, but we have a chance to redeem ourselves against Tanzania. We know it won’t be easy, but we have to fight to achieve our dream of qualifying for the World Cup."

A Familiar East African Clash

This will be only the second time Uganda and Tanzania meet at the U-17 AFCON finals. Their first encounter came in 2019, also in the second group game, when Uganda triumphed 3-0 over tournament hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

However, neither team progressed past the group stage that year. More recently, the two sides clashed in the qualifiers for Morocco 2025, drawing 1-1 in the group stage before Uganda secured a 2-1 victory in the final.

Notably, Tanzania took the lead in both matches but failed to hold on. In Uganda’s Tournament Records and Key Stats, the 0-5 loss to Morocco was the biggest loss the U-17 team has ever faced in AFCON. This is the first time Uganda has lost back-to-back matches at the finals.

In their only previous appearance (2019), Uganda won 3-0 against Tanzania in their second group game. Uganda’s only clean sheet at the games came in that victory over Tanzania. In their last two U-17 AFCON games, Uganda has conceded six goals, matching the total they had conceded in their first three games at the finals.

Despite the heavy loss to Morocco, Uganda made 65 final third entries—more than Morocco’s 61. Tanzania continues to face challenges in the U-17 AFCON, remaining winless with a record of one draw and six defeats.

Their 4-1 defeat to Zambia was their sixth successive loss at the finals. Tanzania’s joint-biggest loss at the tournament was a 3-0 defeat to Uganda in 2019. They have now conceded four or more goals in a match three times at the finals.

Against Zambia, Tanzania dominated possession (60%) and completed 346 passes compared to Zambia’s 214 but still lost heavily.