Uganda U17 head coach Brian Ssenyondo has credited his team’s “hard work, belief and determination” following their historic qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Ssenyondo took to social media shortly after the final whistle in Marrakech to salute his players and fans after the Cubs overturned an early setback to defeat The Gambia 2-1 in Saturday’s high-stakes playoff.
“Hard work, Belief and Determination were key in our journey,” he posted. “Huge thanks to the players for not relenting and the fans back home for your invaluable support and encouragement.”
The dramatic win secured Uganda a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history.
After conceding in the first minute to The Gambia’s Ahmed Njindu, Uganda showed remarkable composure to fight back through 17-year-old forward James Bogere, who netted a first-half brace to turn the game on its head.
Bogere, a fitness doubt ahead of the match, delivered when it mattered most—first equalising in the 13th minute from an Elvis Torach assist, before curling in a superb second in the 33rd to give Uganda a lead they would not surrender.
The Cubs defended resiliently in the second half, with Ssenyondo’s tactical adjustments helping them see out the result.
“This is our last chance,” Ssenyondo had told reporters before the game. “Gambia is a strong side, very competitive. But the World Cup has always been our dream—we have to fight for it.”
Having finished third in Group A at the ongoing CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda needed the playoff win to claim one of the final two African slots for the U17 World Cup.
Their triumph now places them among the ten African teams heading to Qatar in November.
