Uganda’s U-17 national team (Uganda Cubs) endured a nightmarish start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of host nation Morocco on Monday morning at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia.
From the first whistle, the Uganda Cubs were under pressure, with Morocco taking an early lead in the 3rd minute. Ilies Belmokhtar capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot the ball past Uganda’s goalkeeper, opening the scoring for the hosts.
Before Uganda could regroup, Morocco doubled their lead in the 8th minute through Driss Aït Chiekh, who finished off a well-executed team move, leaving the Uganda Cubs struggling to cope with the pressure.
The hosts continued to dominate, and midway through the first half, a VAR review awarded Morocco a penalty. Ziyad Baha Abedlahadj stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly sent Uganda’s Ashraf Lukyamuzi the wrong way, making it 3-0 in the 23rd minute.
Uganda’s defense continued to unravel, and in the 32nd minute, Belmokhtar netted his second goal of the match, finishing a quick counter-attack with precision. By halftime, the Cubs were staring at a 4-0 deficit, outplayed in every area of the game.
After the break, Uganda showed some resilience, attempting to steady the ship and avoid further damage. Although they had a few promising moments, Morocco’s defense remained unyielding, snuffing out any potential threats.
In the 71st minute, Abedlahadj sealed his brace with a perfectly placed shot from the edge of the box, leaving Lukyamuzi helpless and completing a dominant 5-0 victory for Morocco.
The result propelled Morocco to the top of Group A, sending a strong message to their competitors. They will return to action on Thursday, April 3, against Zambia.
Uganda, on the other hand, faces a crucial match against Tanzania on the same day. They must recover quickly if they are to keep their AFCON hopes alive.
