Uganda Kobs Draw Ethiopia In 2027 U-23 AFCON Qualifiers, Morocco Awaits In Second Round
David GOMBE
Uganda’s U-23 national team, the Kobs, will face Ethiopia in the first round of qualification for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, with a daunting tie against Morocco awaiting in the next round.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the qualifiers draw, with the Kobs starting their campaign away from home.
Uganda will travel to Ethiopia for the first leg on 28th September, before hosting the return leg in Kampala on 6th October 2026.
The winner on aggregate will advance to the second and final qualifying round, where Morocco lies in wait. The second-round ties are scheduled between 9th and 17th November.
For the Kobs, this campaign represents another chance to end a long wait. Since the tournament was introduced in 2011, Uganda has never qualified for the finals.
The team has come close on several occasions but fallen short. In the most recent campaign for the 2023 edition held in Morocco, Uganda reached the second round but was eliminated by Guinea.
Now under a new technical team, the Kobs must first negotiate a tricky East African derby against Ethiopia – a side they know well from CECAFA competitions – before dreaming of Morocco.
There is extra incentive this time. Hosts Egypt have already qualified automatically for the 2027 finals, and the tournament will double as Africa’s qualifier for the Men’s Football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
That means reaching the finals in Egypt will also keep Uganda’s Olympic dream alive.
A positive result in Ethiopia on September 28th would put the Kobs in a strong position heading into the return leg in Uganda eight days later.
If Uganda overcomes Ethiopia, a two-legged showdown with North African giants Morocco will decide who books a ticket to Egypt 2027.