Uganda U-17 qualify to 2025 Afcon tournament in Morocco

Afcon U-17 qualifiers (Cecafa Zone):

• Uganda 4-1 Somalia

Uganda U-17 national football team (Cubs) qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following an emphatic 4-1 victory over Somalia in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers semi-finals at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

Lethal forward James Bogere starred with a hat-trick and Abubakali Walusimbi added the fourth in the semi-final clash.

Ibraim Osman got the consolation for the horn of Africa country Somalia.

Walusimbi gave Uganda Cubs who are coached by Brian Ssenyondo the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Bogere added the second five minutes into the second half for the 2-0 lead.

Osman pulled a goal back for Somalia in the 67^th minute to give hope for the Somalis.

Bogere then killed off the game with two stoppage minute goals for the comprehensive victory that sealed Uganda’s ticket to the Afcon U-17 tournament in Morocco.

In the final of the 2024 Cecafa U-17 tournament, Uganda will face Tanzania at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Friday, December 27.

Tanzania overcame South Sudan 4-0 in the opening semi-final.

Hussein Mbegu opened the scoring business in the 16^th minute.

Zamu Ng’habi made it two on 32 minutes before Samson Abel Josiah registered his name on the score-sheet four minutes later.

Juma Abushiri capped the icing on the cake with the fourth goal five minutes after the mandatory recess.

Both Uganda and Tanzania will represent the CECAFA zone at the 2025 Afcon U-17 finals next year.

The Afcon U-17 tournament is scheduled to take place from March 30 to April 19, 2025.