Uganda will once again need to go through the playoff route to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after finishing third in their group at the ongoing U-17 AFCON in Morocco.
The Cubs played out a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast in their final group game on Tuesday.
However, Uganda were left frustrated by a couple of VAR reviews that did not go their way including Ivory Coast surviving a red card.
Ivory Coast had taken the lead through Drebo Koundougnon, with the goal initially ruled out by the referee before VAR overturned the decision.
Uganda responded before halftime, as Henry Muhoozi curled home a right-footed free-kick to level matters.
In the second half, Ivory Coast restored their lead in the 79th minute through Souleymane Kone.
The assistant referee had flagged for offside, but VAR allowed the goal to stand despite Kone appearing clearly offside when he received the pass. But the goal stood after an indication that the ball had come off a Ugandan player.
The Cubs were handed a late lifeline after VAR awarded them a penalty, which Arafat Ibanda calmly converted to make it 2-2.
The draw secured top spot for Ivory Coast, while Uganda finished third after Cameroon defeated DR Congo in the other group match.
The top two teams from each of the four groups qualify automatically for both the knockout stage and the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while the four third-placed teams enter playoffs to determine the final two African slots for the tournament.
Uganda will now face the third-placed team from Group D — which includes Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, and Ghana — in a playoff match on May 23.
Last year, the Uganda Cubs defeated Gambia in the playoffs to qualify for their maiden FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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