Morocco opens U17 AFCON with resounding 5-0 win over Uganda

The Moroccan U-17 national team delivered a dominant performance in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), thrashing Uganda 5-0 in Group A play at Stade Bachir in Mohammédia.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) praised the young Atlas Lions’ commanding victory, highlighting both the players’ impressive display and the electric atmosphere created by Moroccan fans, who packed the stands to cheer their team on during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

Morocco’s head coach, Nabil Baha, credited the early goal for setting the tone of the match. “Scoring in the opening minutes gave the players a lot of confidence,” he said. “Starting the tournament with a win was crucial for our qualification hopes.”

Despite the emphatic win, Baha stressed the need for improvement. “We still have to correct some defensive mistakes to avoid any risks in our box. The players aren’t used to performing in front of such a big crowd, but they handled the pressure well and put on a great performance,” he added.

Morocco will face Zambia in their second group-stage match on Thursday at 8 p.m. local time in Mohammédia.