Uganda’s U-17 National Football team, the Cubs, have qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup after edging Ghana 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Saturday night in Rabat, Morocco.
The historic qualification was confirmed at the Mohammed VI Complex Pitch 10 following a tense encounter that ended 2-2 in normal time before Uganda prevailed in the post-match penalties.
The Cubs twice came from behind during the floodlit contest against the Ghana Black Starlets, one of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses. Team captain Owen Mukisa levelled matters in the first half with a spectacular direct corner kick, before Arafat Ibanda calmly converted a late penalty in the 90th minute to force the shootout.
Uganda held their nerve during the penalties to secure victory and book a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup due to take place in Qatar later this year.
Scenes of celebration erupted immediately after the final whistle as players, coaches and officials sprinted onto the pitch in jubilation before continuing the celebrations in the dressing room and later at their team hotel in Rabat.
Head coach Laryea Kingston expressed excitement after guiding Uganda to the global tournament. “We are there. We are in the World Cup now,” Kingston said moments after the victory.
The coach, who was born in Ghana, praised his players for their resilience and composure against a strong Ghanaian side. “It came out the hard way. Playing against Ghana is not an easy thing,” he noted. “We took the game to them but they got the goal. Throughout the 90 minutes, we were using the ball very well. I give credit to the boys,” Kingston added.
Team captain Owen Mukisa, says they were determined to deliver a spectacular performance following the intense prior preps.
“We believed in ourselves from the first minute up to the last penalty. This is a special moment for Uganda and for every player in this team,” Mukisa said. Qualifying for the World Cup is a dream come true and we thank the coaches, FUFA and all Ugandans for the support.”
The qualification marks a major milestone for Ugandan football and shifts attention to preparations for the World Cup as the technical team seeks to assemble a competitive squad for the tournament in Qatar.
