TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON: Tanzania return with strong ambitions under Morris’ guidance
The Serengeti Boys’ absence from the last two editions of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations has fuelled coach Aggrey Morris’ strong ambition of not only coming back stronger but securing a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The East Africans face a mammoth task in Group A that sees them drawn against the hosts Morocco, neighbours Uganda as well as Southern African champions Zambia in the newly expanded competition set to take place between 30 March – 19 April 2025.
Tanzania’s last TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON appearance was when they hosted the competition in 2019, where they disappointingly bowed out in the group stages, losing all their group matches to Uganda, Angola and Nigeria.
Preceding the 2019 edition, the Serengeti Boys could not make it past the group stages in their 2017 debut where the narrowly missed out of a knockout stage at the Rwanda finals.
Reacting the to the draw outcome, coach Morris said while they have been drawn in one of the toughest groups, he believes the team’s ambition of doing well at the competition and qualifying for the World Cup would fuel to their ambition to compete.
“We have seen the draw and now we know our opponents. The teams in our group, Morocco, Uganda, Zambia are all good and competitive teams, and each team is better, the draw gives us the opportunity to prepare well to reach our goals” said the former Tanzanian national team defender.
“The group is difficult; every team needs a chance. We are ready for the competition, we will prepare better to reach our goals and our dreams of qualifying for the World Cup will push us to give it our best”, he concluded.
Before assuming his coaching role, Morris represented Tanzania as a defender during his prime playing days.
The hard-tackling defender was also voted Player of the Season during the 2011/12 season while playing for Azam FC.
TotalEnergies CAF U-17 CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Draw Outcome:
GROUP A: Morocco (Hosts), Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia
GROUP B: Burkina Faso, UNIFFAC 1, South Africa, Egypt
GROUP C: Senegal, Gambia, Somalia, Tunisia
GROUP D: Mali, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, UNIFFAC 2