Uganda Cubs Results in Dubai Friendlies
Uganda 1–1 Venezuela (Scorer: James Bogere)
Uganda 1–2 Panama (Scorer: Simon Wanyama)
Uganda 2–3 Paraguay (Scorers: James Bogere, Abubakali Walusimbi)
Dubai, UAE: Uganda’s U17 national football team, the Uganda Cubs, wrapped up their participation in the Dubai Youth Challenge Cup with a narrow 3–2 loss to Paraguay on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in their final build-up match ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
The result marked Uganda’s second defeat of the tournament but provided crucial exposure as the youngsters prepare for their historic World Cup debut.
The Cubs began brightly, with forward James Bogere putting Uganda ahead in the 24th minute — his second goal of the tournament. However, Paraguay fought back and equalized through Alan Ledesma’s penalty in the 40th minute before Almada Derlis made it 2–1 just before halftime.
After the break, Uganda’s Abubakali Walusimbi levelled the score in the 55th minute with a fine finish, but De Carvalho Mauricio restored Paraguay’s advantage in the 71st minute, a lead the South Americans held onto until the final whistle.
Despite showing attacking intent and creativity in midfield, defensive lapses and loss of concentration again cost Uganda valuable points.
Mixed Results, Valuable Lessons
The loss to Paraguay followed Uganda’s 1–2 defeat to Panama on Sunday, where Simon Wanyama scored early before the Central Americans rallied to win through goals from Gordon Gerson and Richards Moises.
Earlier, the Cubs drew 1–1 with Venezuela, with Bogere on target again, meaning Uganda finished the three-match series with four goals scored and six conceded — evidence of attacking potential but also defensive frailties that need tightening before Qatar.
The Dubai Youth Challenge Cup was organized to test the Cubs against international opposition as they fine-tune their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, which kicks off on November 3 in Qatar.
Uganda will feature in Group K alongside Canada, Chile, and France, a challenging pool that will demand tactical discipline and mental strength from the young Cranes.
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