Serengeti Boys ready to roar in Afcon-Cecafa Zone final against Uganda
The national U-17 football team players, Serengeti Boys, pose in a past match. They are facing a tough test today against Uganda in the final match of the 2025 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)– Cecafa Zone–qualifying tournament. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The team head coach Aggrey Morris said he is targeting victory to clinch the Cecafa Zone Afcon qualifier title.
Dar es Salaam. The national U-17 football team, Serengeti Boys, are today facing a tough test against Uganda in the final match of the 2025 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)–Cecafa Zone – qualifying tournament.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3.30pm at the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala.
The team head coach Aggrey Morris said he is targeting victory to clinch the Cecafa Zone Afcon qualifier title.
However, both Serengeti Boys and Uganda have already secured spots in the Afcon finals, set to be held in Morocco next year.
Earlier in the day, Somalia will face South Sudan in the third-place playoff at 12,30pm.
In the group stage, Serengeti Boys and Uganda played to a 1-1 draw, with Uganda scoring an equalizer after trailing 1-0.
Morris remains optimistic about winning the final despite acknowledging the strength of their opponents.
He said the team has worked on rectifying past mistakes to improve their performance.
“It is going to be a tough encounter because Uganda are one of the strongest teams in the tournament. We drew 1-1 in the group stage, but that doesn’t guarantee the same result this time. We know how to counter them. We have adjusted our squad compared to before. I know they’ve made changes as well, so we must stay focused throughout,” said Morris.
He added that there are no injuries in the squad and that his players are highly motivated.
“What I can assure you is great football from my players. We have trained well, and the next generation of Tanzania football stars is eager to prove their worth in this tournament. We want to maintain our winning streak,” he said.
Uganda’s coach, Brian Ssenyondo, expressed confidence in his players’ readiness for the final and emphasised their focus on achieving the best result.
“It will be a tough match. We know their strengths and how to counter them. We also know how to handle the game and win. It will be a very tactical encounter, but above all, our target is to win the trophy,” said Ssenyondo.
