Uganda’s U-17 side, the Uganda Cubs, finished as runners-up at the CECAFA U-17 Championship after a pulsating 3–2 loss to rivals Tanzania in Tuesday’s finale at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa.
Despite the heartbreak, the young Cubs leave Ethiopia with something to celebrate: a secured berth at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Reaching the top three was the competition’s ultimate prize, and Uganda ticked that box with conviction.
Experience gained, eyes now on TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON 2026.
Full-time! Tanzania 3️⃣-2️⃣ Uganda
U-17 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers 2025 | Final#U17AFCONCQ pic.twitter.com/qef23L4TdU— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) December 2, 2025
Tanzania, still stung by last year’s 2–1 defeat to Uganda in the Nakivubo final, approached the match with intent, and their early aggression paid off. Razak Mbegelendi struck in the sixth minute to ignite the contest. Uganda responded swiftly, with Thomas Ogema sweeping home an equaliser seven minutes later to restore balance.
But the fast-paced duel tilted again before the break. Mbegelendi grabbed his second just after the half-hour mark, squeezing in a scrappy finish off the upright following a teasing delivery into the area. Moments later, Luqman Mbalasalu polished off an intricate Tanzanian move to extend the lead to 3–1 at half-time.
Uganda pushed hard after the restart, but their hopes took a blow when Fahad Ismail’s penalty was expertly denied by the Tanzanian goalkeeper. Substitute Brian Olwa clawed one back deep into stoppage time, sparking brief late drama, but Tanzania held firm to clinch the regional crown.
📹 The Uganda Cubs receiving Silver Medals at the U-17 AFCON CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers 2025#U17AFCONCQ pic.twitter.com/MlbhfNQ6xa
— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) December 2, 2025
Alongside champions Tanzania and bronze-medal winners Ethiopia, who beat Kenya 3–0, the Cubs will represent CECAFA at next year’s AFCON U-17 showpiece.
