Uganda national under-17 football team

The Uganda national under-17 scored its first goal in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on 5 November 2025 in Qatar. The Uganda national under-17 football team, known as the Uganda Cubs, recently made history as the first Ugandan team to reach the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in November 2025.

For the first time in history, Uganda secured a victory in a FIFA World Cup match. James Bogere's early goal enabled the Uganda Cubs to surprise France with a 1-0 win and move on to the knockout rounds of the U-17 tournament.^[6] It is currently coached by Brain Ssenyondo.

The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar marked a historic milestone for Ugandan football. On 12 April 2025, Uganda secured qualification for the tournament, the first time any Ugandan team at any level has qualified for a FIFA World Cup event, by defeating The Gambia 2-1 in a playoff following the 2025 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nation.^[7]

The team's participation galvanized support at home and FUFA organised a homecoming ceremony in Entebe to honour the squad's achievement.^[8]

The Cubs are recognised for their attacking play and tactical discipline. Their recent successes reflect the growth of youth football structures in Uganda and underscore FUFA's focus on long-term development including coaching education, youth competition and international exposure.^[9]

The following players were called up for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
1	1GK	Adrian Mukwanga	(2010-05-25) 25 May 2010 (age 15)	Vipers SC
18	1GK	Edrisah Waibi	(2008-06-28) 28 June 2008 (age 17)	Buddo SS
19	1GK	Gilbert Mazige	(2008-09-15) 15 September 2008 (age 17)	NEC
21	2DF	Abdul Ntege	(2010-01-01) 1 January 2010 (age 16)	Maroons FC
4	2DF	Steven Oyirwoth	(2009-09-24) 24 September 2009 (age 16)	KCCA FC
2	2DF	Jovan Mukisa	(2009-05-29) 29 May 2009 (age 16)	Grassrunners FC
16	3MF	John Owino	(2009-09-05) 5 September 2009 (age 16)	Express
7	3MF	Derick Ssozi	(2008-06-01) 1 June 2008 (age 17)	Fort Portal Taxi Operators
13	3MF	Nuweagaba Kamurungi	(2010-10-16) 16 October 2010 (age 15)	Kitara
12	3MF	John Asiimwe	(2008-10-15) 15 October 2008 (age 17)	Express
5	3MF	Brian Jjara	(2008-10-04) 4 October 2008 (age 17)	KCCA FC
8	3MF	Abubakali Walusimbi	(2008-12-27) 27 December 2008 (age 17)	Vipers SC
10	3MF	Isima Magala	(2009-07-28) 28 July 2009 (age 16)	Masaka Sunshine
14	4FW	Simon Wanyama	(2009-12-20) 20 December 2009 (age 16)	Bukedea Comprehensive
15	4FW	Shakur Magogo	(2008-12-15) 15 December 2008 (age 17)	Namilyango College
17	4FW	Arafat Nkoola	(2008-12-26) 26 December 2008 (age 17)	Vipers SC
20	4FW	Enock Bagenda	(2008-09-09) 9 September 2008 (age 17)	KCCA FC

The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void or Postponed   Fixtures

Uganda  v  Tanzania

15 December 2024 CECAFA U-17 Championship Group A	Uganda	1–1	Tanzania	Kampala, Uganda
16:00 UTC+3	Magala 58'	Report	Ally 19'	Stadium: Nakivubo Hamz Stadium

Uganda  v  Kenya

21 December 2024 CECAFA U-17 Championship Group A	Uganda	5–0	Kenya	Kampala, Uganda
16:00 UTC+3	Bogere 17' (pen.), 42', 58' Magala 40' Wanyama 78'	Report		Stadium: Nakivubo Hamz Stadium

Uganda  v  Somalia

24 December 2024 CECAFA U-17 Championship Semi-final	Uganda	4–1	Somalia	Kampala, Uganda
16:30 UTC+3	Walisimbi 45' Bogere 58', 90+3', 90+5'	Report	Osman 70'	Stadium: Nakivubo Hamz Stadium

Tanzania  v  Uganda

27 December 2024 CECAFA U-17 Championship Final	Tanzania	1–2	Uganda	Kampala, Uganda
15:30 UTC+3	Josiah 11'	Report	Nkoola 64' Bogere 89'	Stadium: Nakivubo Hamz Stadium

Burkina Faso  v  Uganda

23 January Friendly	Burkina Faso	3–2	Uganda
12:00		Report

Morocco  v  Uganda

30 March 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Group A	Morocco	5–0	Uganda	Mohammedia, Morocco
22:00 UTC+1	Belmokhtar 3', 32' (pen.) Ait Cheikh 8' Baha 24', 71'	Report		Stadium: El Bachir Stadium Referee: Brahamou Sadou Ali (Niger)

Uganda  v  Tanzania

3 April 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Group A	Uganda	3–0	Tanzania	Mohammedia, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1	Wanyama 61' Okello 85' Bogere 90+2' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: El Bachir Stadium Referee: Lominson Todihajaniaina (Madagascar)

Uganda  v  Zambia

6 April 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Group A	Uganda	1–2	Zambia	Casablanca, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1	Torach 49'	Report	Chipelu 20' Daka 86'	Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)

Uganda  v  Gambia

12 April 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification play-off	Uganda	2–1	Gambia	El Jadida, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1	Bogere 13', 33'	Report	Kanyi 1'	Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Canada  v  Uganda

5 November 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Group K	Canada	2–1	Uganda	Al Rayyan, Qatar
18:45 UTC+3	Roche 88' Aiyenero 90+8' (pen.)	Report	Bogere 25'	Stadium: Aspire Zone (pitch 9) Referee: Oleksii Derevinskyi (Ukraine)

Uganda  v  Chile

8 November 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Group K	Uganda	1–1	Chile	Al Rayyan, Qatar
15:30 UTC+3	Ssozi 90+3'	Report	Torres 45+3'	Stadium: Aspire Zone (pitch 8) Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands)

Uganda  v  France

11 November 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Group K	Uganda	1–0	France	Al Rayyan, Qatar
15:30 UTC+3	Bogere 18'	Report		Stadium: Aspire Zone (pitch 3) Referee: Rustam Lutfullin (Uzbekistan)

Senegal  v  Uganda

15 November 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 32	Senegal	0–1	Uganda	Al Rayyan, Qatar
15:30 UTC+3		Report	Walusimbi 15'	Stadium: Aspire Zone (pitch 7) Referee: Paulo Zanovelli (Brazil)