Uganda cubs eye strong start against DR Congo in 2026 AFCON U17 opener

Uganda’s U-17 national team begins its quest for continental success on Wednesday evening when they face DR Congo in its opening Group stage match of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Cubs head into the tournament determined to build on the country’s growing reputation at the youth level following their historic qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year. With another World Cup ticket at stake, Uganda knows every point in the group could prove vital.

Uganda has been drawn in a challenging pool that also features regional powerhouses Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, making a positive start against DR Congo crucial for their ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage.

The tournament format offers direct FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification to the top two teams in each group, who will also advance to the quarter-finals, while two extra World Cup slots will be determined through playoffs among selected teams.

The Cubs arrive in Morocco encouraged by a productive preparation camp in Casablanca, where they produced impressive performances in friendly matches.

Uganda defeated Mozambique 3-1 before edging Mali 1-0, results that boosted confidence within the camp ahead of the tournament kickoff.

After finishing as runners-up in the CECAFA qualifiers to secure their place at the finals, Uganda will now be aiming to reach the knockout stages for the first time in the competition’s history.

Mukisa to lead Uganda Cubs

Captain Owen Mukisa is expected to lead from the front once again, while key players Brian Olwa and Thomas Ogema are tipped to play important roles as the Cubs seek a dream start in Morocco.

Their opponents, DR Congo, are equally eager to make an impression on their tournament debut after qualifying through the UNIFFAC championship, where they finished runners-up.

The encounter is therefore expected to be highly competitive with both sides targeting early momentum.

Cameroon, who are two-time African champions and reigning UNIFFAC winners, remain one of the favourites in the group, while Côte d’Ivoire come into the tournament as WAFU B champions after defeating Ghana in the regional final.

A victory for Uganda on Wednesday would not only boost confidence but also place the Cubs in a strong position heading into their remaining group matches against two of Africa’s traditional youth football giants.