Mascot FOR 2019 AFCON U-17 In Tanzania Unveiled

The official AFCON U-17 Tournament mascot being unveiled in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

AFCON U-17 Championship:

14^th  – 28^th  April 2019

Dar es Salaam – Tanzania

The official mascot that will be used for the 2019 U-17 tournament in April was officially unveiled in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam.

The mascot is symbolic of unity, harmony and courage in Tanzania as it is blended with the country’s tourism natural attractions such as Mountain Kilimanjaro, arguably the largest mountain in Africa.

It also has an anti-poaching campaign, in which, Rhino’s horn and elephant’s tusks are on display.

Harrison Mwakyembe, the Tanzania minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, flanked by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) official, Aaron Nyanda witnessed the ceremony at which the official mascot was made public.

Mwakyembe, also the chairman of the local organizing committee lauded the head of state John Magufuli, for approving the tournament to be hosted in the country, the first time that such an event is staged in Tanzania.

We are sure, with close cooperation from TFF and CAF, the finals will be staged successfully. We are working tirelessly to address the recommendations by CAF on improving the venues that will host the event. I urge the Tanzanians to turn up in huge numbers to support Serengeti Boys and the tournament at large and prove to the rest of the world that Tanzania was capable of hosting even bigger tournaments.

Harrison Mwakyembe, the Tanzania minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports

Eight countries qualified to play at the finals of this biannual championship.

Uganda national U-17 team, The Cubs will face African giants Nigeria, hosts Tanzania and Southern Africa country Angola in group A.

Group B is arguably dubbed the group of death with Guinea, Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal.

The tournament will kick off 14^th April and will climax by 28th April 2019.

The four semi-finalists will all qualify to play at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, South America (5^th to 27^th  October).

Already hosts Peru, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Tajikistan, New Zealand and Solomon Islands are assured of participation at the U-17 World Cup this year.