KAMPALA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has named its final squad for the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with the team aiming to secure a place in the 2027 continental championship.

The 10-team tournament will be held from October 10 to 19 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Laryea Kingston, head coach of the Uganda Cubs, told Xinhua on Tuesday that he had selected a strong squad capable of competing well, with qualification for the 2027 U-17 AFCON the team's primary objective.

"We have prepared well and the players who have been selected should be able to get the positive results that we shall be aiming for," added Kingston.

Ahmed Hussein, corporate affairs director of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), said Arsenal's Isaiah Matthews would not feature in competitive action but had been selected as part of FUFA's strategic integration program for diaspora and emerging talents.

"It will help Matthews gain invaluable international exposure within the national youth set-up ahead of future engagements," added Hussein.

Uganda has been drawn in Group B alongside Ethiopia and Burundi. Group A comprises host Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan, while defending champion Tanzania is in Group C with Djibouti and Kenya. ■

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