Uganda Handed Sudan, Djibouti Test in U-20 AFCON Qualifiers

What the report says

Uganda’s U-20 men’s team, the Hippos, have been placed in Group B with Sudan and Djibouti for the CECAFA qualifiers for the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The draw was held on Monday at Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda, according to Nile Post, and sets up a short group stage in which Uganda will need to finish strongly to keep its qualification hopes alive.

The format of the regional tournament gives added importance to every match. The three group winners will move directly to the semi-finals, along with the best second-placed side across the three pools. Only the two finalists from the CECAFA competition will secure places at the continental finals, making the path to qualification narrow.

Nile Post reported that Uganda enter the event after finishing runners-up in the previous CECAFA U-20 qualifiers. The team has already begun preparations, with a provisional squad in camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru under head coach Laryea Kingston. That suggests the side is aiming to build on its recent regional performance and improve on last time’s result.

The qualifiers are scheduled to take place in Tanzania from September 15 to 25, with matches at the renovated Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The wider draw includes Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda in Group A, and South Sudan, Kenya and Burundi in Group C. More generally, the tournament is part of CECAFA’s role in identifying and testing emerging East and Central African talent.