Uganda Cubs squad
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Uganda Cubs will enter the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as favourites to win the trophy as it enjoyed top performance all the way to topping the group. It dismantled Ethiopia 4-0 in the semifinals of the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers at Kigali Pelé Stadium in Rwanda on Saturday.
The emphatic victory secured Uganda a place at next year’s continental tournament and kept alive the team’s dream of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Coached by Kingston Laryea, the Cubs produced a commanding performance against an Ethiopian side they had drawn with during the group stage, scoring four goals before half-time to settle the contest early.
Ukasha Jemba opened the scoring in the first minute before Arnold Kayemba doubled Uganda’s advantage five minutes later. Yusuf Ssenyonga then struck twice in the 33rd and 37th minutes to complete the rout and send the Ugandan team through to the final.
The result underlined Uganda’s attacking strength and ability to turn an earlier closely contested encounter against Ethiopia into a convincing semifinal triumph.
Fast start unsettles Ethiopia
The Cubs wasted little time asserting their authority, with Jemba finding the net in the opening minute to give Uganda an early lead.
The goal immediately placed Ethiopia under pressure, and Uganda capitalised again in the sixth minute when Kayemba scored the second.
With a two-goal cushion inside the opening six minutes, the Ugandans dictated the pace of the contest and forced their opponents to chase the game.
Ssenyonga extended the lead in the 33rd minute before completing his brace four minutes later. His two goals ensured Uganda went into the interval with an unassailable 4-0 advantage.
The second-half scoreline remained unchanged, allowing the Cubs to complete a comprehensive victory and confirm their qualification for the continental showpiece.
The performance was particularly significant given that the two teams had met earlier in Group B, where they played out a 1-1 draw. Kayemba had scored Uganda’s equaliser in that encounter.
Group campaign lays foundation
Uganda’s qualification was built on a strong Group B campaign that began with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Burundi.
The result gave the Cubs an early advantage in the race for a semifinal place and demonstrated their ability to score freely against regional opposition.
They subsequently drew 1-1 with Ethiopia, with Kayemba rescuing a point for Uganda. The Cubs finished top of Group B on goal difference, setting up the semifinal rematch against the same opponents.
Saturday’s victory showed how effectively the team responded to the earlier draw, improving their attacking output to score four unanswered goals when qualification was at stake.
The Cubs’ progression also continues Uganda’s run of appearances at the U-17 AFCON, having qualified for three consecutive editions of the continental finals.
World Cup dream remains alive
The U-17 AFCON offers Uganda another opportunity to test its young players against the continent’s leading football nations while pursuing a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Africa’s quarterfinalists at the continental tournament qualify for the global competition, making a strong AFCON campaign crucial to the Cubs’ ambitions.
Uganda’s immediate task is to prepare for the final of the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, where they will face either hosts Rwanda or Somalia, who were scheduled to meet in the other semifinal.
The top three teams at the regional qualifiers — the two finalists and the third-placed side — earn places at the 2027 U-17 AFCON, allowing the CECAFA region to send three representatives to the continental competition.
By reaching the final, Uganda has already secured its qualification ticket, easing the immediate pressure on Laryea’s charges while giving them an opportunity to pursue the regional title.
The emphatic victory over Ethiopia will also provide confidence ahead of the next stage of preparations, particularly after the Cubs demonstrated their ability to translate early attacking pressure into goals.
For Uganda, the 4-0 triumph represents more than a place in the final. It confirms another appearance at the continental tournament and keeps the prospect of reaching the FIFA U-17 World Cup firmly within sight.
With qualification secured, attention now turns to the regional final and the longer-term challenge of building a squad capable of competing with Africa’s strongest youth teams in 2027.
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