Uganda Cubs fought from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Chile in their second Group K match played at the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 on Doha, Qatar.

The Uganda Cubs team dominated play in the early periods of the first half, but were not sharp at goal in a match played at the Aspire Zone Complex on Saturday.

Bruno Torres gave Chile the lead three minutes into added time before the break. Uganda’s goalkeeper mistimed free kick giving Torres time to nod the ball in the next.

The two teams came all out in the second half playing a highly attacking game with each side hitting the woodwork.  

With three minutes of added time substitute Derrick Ssozi leveled for Uganda after a Chile team failed to clear their lines.

It was Uganda’s first earned point at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after losing their opening match 2-1 to Canada few days ago. In the second Group K match played on Saturday France and Canada settled for a goalless draw.

Uganda will now face table leaders and former champions France in the last deciding Group K match on November 11^th. France leads the table with 4 points, while Canada are in second place with a similar number of points, but lower goal difference. Uganda are in third place and Chile bottom.

Uganda has been selected to host the CAF African Football CECAFA Zonal qualifiers 2026.

Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) says that the tournament has been moved from Ethiopia to Uganda.

“We are happy to announce that the regional qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone will now be hosted by Uganda from December 6-9^th, 2025. This is a very important competition to have the youngsters compete at Zonal level for boys and girls and later, and we thank Uganda for accepting to host the tournament,” explained Sseninde.

Ten teams for the boys and eight for the girls have already confirmed participation. The draw for the competition will take place on November 10th at the FUFA Studio in Mengo, Uganda.

Sseninde highlighted that In addition to the competition, CAF’s ongoing Capacity Building Programmes will also take place.

These include the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referee Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme, CAF D License Coaching Course and the CAF Safeguarding workshops.

Teams from the CECAFA Zone have been the most successful teams since the CAF African Schools Championship was launched by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe in 2022.

The inaugural tournament took place in Durban in 2023 with Guinea’s CS Ben Sekou Sylla winning the boys title, and Tanzania’s Fountain Gate School winning the girl’s title. During the second edition hosted by Zanzibar in 2024, Tanzania won the boy’s title, while South Africa emerged champions in the girl’s category.

The third edition held in Ghana this year saw Tanzania defend their boy’s title, while hosts Ghana beat Uganda in the final to win the girl’s title.

The national teams of Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda will be involved in International friendly matches during the FIFA International Match Window of November 14-18^th, 2025.

Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda will also use the international friendly matches to prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

The Sudan team which will also play in the FIFA Arab Cup later this month will face-off against Oman in an International friendly match to be played November 14th in Muscat, Oman.

Uganda Cranes will also be involved in two international friendly matches against Chad and Africa’s top ranked team Morocco. Edgar Watson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) announced on Thursday that the national team will face Chad on November 14^th and take on Morocco four days later.  The two matches will be played in the town of Tangier in Morocco.

The Taifa Stars of Tanzania under new caretaker coach Miguel Gamondi will also play against Kuwait in a match slated for November 14^th at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.

While the AFCON 2025 bound CECAFA teams Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda will be engaged with international matches, the Harambee Stars of Kenya and Burundi will also be engaged with matches during the same period.

Kenya will play two International friendly matches against Madagascar and Senegal between November 14-18^th in Antalya, Turkey, while Burundi will host Zambia at the newly renovated Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura.

Uganda Cubs have made a false start in Group K of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 on-going at the Aspire Zone Complex in Doha, Qatar.

James Bogere gave the Cubs the lead after 25 minutes, but the team from the CECAFA Zone failed to manage the second half well conceding two goals and suffering a 2-1 defeat.

 The Uganda Cubs dominated play in the first half and missed several scoring opportunities in-front of goal.

With just a few minutes to full time Canada leveled matters with Elijah Roche scoring after 88 minutes. Roche who had earlier made a goal-saving tackle rose high to head home Aghilas Sadek’s corner past Uganda’s goalkeeper Gilbert Mazige.

In the eighth minute of added time substitute Marius Aiyenero converted a penalty to earn Canada maximum points. Uganda’s John Asiimwe was judged to have taken Aiyenero down in the penalty box.

Brian Ssenyondo, the Uganda Cubs coach said that the boys had played well, but failed to take their chances at goal. “We need to remain focused ahead of the two remaining group matches,” added Ssenyondo.

France who beat Chile 2-0 in one of the matches played on Wednesday lead Group K, while Canada are second and Uganda third.

The Uganda Cubs will next face Chile on November 8th, and play the last Group match against France three days later.