The Uganda U-17 Men’s National Team head coach, Laryea Kingston, has praised his players for their resilience and discipline after the Uganda Cubs secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.
Speaking after the hard-fought qualification campaign, Kingston said the team showed great character against some of Africa’s strongest youth sides on their way to reaching the global tournament.
‘Yes, I think we are there. We are in the World Cup now, but we came out the hard way. Playing against Ghana is not an easy game,’ Kingston noted.
The coach revealed that Uganda had to fight back on multiple occasions during the match after conceding goals through Ghana’s counter-attacks.
‘We took the game to them earlier on, but they got a goal and it became very difficult. Throughout the 90 minutes, we were chasing the game two times. Let me give credit to the boys. I think they did very well. They stuck to the game plan throughout the 90 minutes,’ he stated.
Kingston also credited the players for trusting the tactical instructions from the bench and maintaining belief even in difficult moments.
‘I think Ghana caught us by counter-attack and offensive transitions. That is what gave them their two goals. In the second half, when we were 2-1 down, we changed the formation from 3-4-3 to a normal 4-3-3. After that, we dominated the game,’ he explained.
The former Ghana international emphasised that qualification was achieved through determination and belief in the team’s style of play.
‘The boys stuck to it and we started creating a lot of chances. We had a feeling that we could pull something out and it showed very clearly. At the end of the day, we managed to go through,’ he added.
Kingston further highlighted the challenging route Uganda faced, having come up against Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana during the tournament.
‘Our last three games were tough. We had some of the strongest countries in Africa which are Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana. That is why I give credit to the boys. I think they did well in getting to the World Cup,’ he said.
The coach also applauded the support from FUFA and Ugandans throughout the campaign.
‘The support from FUFA has been amazing. I think everything went well. Our preparation was good and we had a strong feeling that we could compete against every team in this competition,’ Kingston remarked.
Looking ahead to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, Kingston assured Ugandans that the technical team will continue improving the squad ahead of the global showpiece.
‘Now we are looking forward to Qatar. Everybody wants to see this and we are happy to be part of it. We will go back, enjoy this moment and then come back stronger. Our preparation for the World Cup is going to be extraordinary,’ he said.
Kingston concluded by appreciating the continued support from fans across the country.
‘Thanks to everyone that helped us to be in this position. As head of the technical team, we appreciate every support from Ugandans. Just continue to support us and we will make sure we put smiles on your faces,’ he concluded.
