Morocco: Uganda’s U-17 national team, the Cubs, Saturday qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after edging Ghana 8-7 in a tense penalty shootout following a dramatic 2-2 draw in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations playoff match.
The victory sends Uganda to a second consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup and confirms the country’s growing rise in youth football under coach Brian Ssenyondo.
The Cubs showed remarkable resilience after twice coming from behind against a determined Ghana side in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
Ghana struck first in the opening half to pile pressure on Uganda before Owen Mukisa restored parity with a crucial equaliser that reignited the Cubs’ hopes.
The Black Starlets regained the lead later in the game and appeared on course to snatch qualification, but Uganda refused to surrender.
Deep into stoppage time, the Cubs earned a lifeline after VAR awarded Uganda a penalty for handball inside the box.
Forward Arafat Ibanda calmly stepped up in the 91st minute and converted the decisive penalty to make it 2-2 and send the contest into a nerve-shredding shootout.
The penalties turned into a test of composure and courage as both sides matched each other kick for kick.
Uganda converted through John Owino, Henry Muhoozi, Abdul Shakur Babi, Brian Olo, Arafat Ibanda, Mujad Mbalire and Musa Suna to keep the Cubs alive throughout the shootout.
The defining moment arrived in sudden death when Uganda goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi produced a crucial save to deny Ghana and hand the Cubs the opportunity to seal qualification.
Travor Mubiru then stepped forward with the weight of a nation on his shoulders and calmly buried the winning penalty to spark wild celebrations among the Ugandan players and technical bench.
Uganda had entered the playoff route after finishing third in Group B with four points behind Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
Ghana also finished third in Group D and dropped into the playoffs after losing a tiebreaker against Algeria.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup will be hosted in Qatar later this year between November and December.
The latest qualification further cements Uganda’s emergence as one of Africa’s fast-rising youth football nations following the Cubs’ historic maiden appearance at the global tournament last year.
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