Hosts Morocco thrashed Uganda 5-0 in the opening match of the 2025 Total Energies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Championship on Sunday.
A goal from Aït Cheikh coupled with a brace each from duo Ziyad Baha, and Ilies Belmokhtar sealed the five-star performance at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia.
The North African giants wasted no time in finding a breakthrough, player of the match, Ilies Belmokhtar kick starting the rout in the 3rd minute.
Morocco continued their incredible start, Aït Cheikh doubling the lead for the home side with a bullet header from Abdellah Ouazane’s beautiful cross five minutes later.
The boys in yellow conceded a penalty in the 23rd minute following the intervention of VAR, which was calmly converted by Real Betis forward, Ziyad Baha.
Morocco looking too clinical in the offensive department, extended their advantage further, Belmokhtar on scoresheet again to make it 4-0 after the half-hour mark.
The end of the first half asserted the dominance by Nabil Baha’s Cubs in front of own supporters with a clean quadruple over Uganda in the curtain-raiser of group A.
Uganda tried to contain the relentless side on return to pitch before Baha’s second and final goal on the night in the 71st minute courtesy of an assist from substitute El Aoud.
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president, Hon Moses Magogo Hassim was present as Uganda suffered their heaviest defeat ever at the expanded tournament.
The CECAFA Champions will need to emerge victorious in their next assignment against regional neighbors, Tanzania to brighten their chances of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
