Uganda’s historic qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup has not only ignited national pride but also placed its young stars firmly in the sights of top European clubs.
The 2025 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco saw an unprecedented presence of football scouts, including representatives from English giants Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, as well as European powerhouses Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Benfica, and Monaco.
According to the Confederation of African Football, over 200 scouts were accredited for this year’s tournament, the largest turnout in U-17 AFCON history.
The scouts were combing through matches in Casablanca, Mohammedia, and Berrechid, looking for the continent’s next breakout stars.
Notably, Bennard Kumordzi, former Ghana international and current Genk scout, was a visible presence, stressing the importance of consistency, speed of thought, and tactical awareness in identifying future stars.
“For us at Genk, we’re not just looking for talent—we’re looking for players who can adapt mentally and tactically,” Kumordzi told CAF Online.
“One good game doesn’t mean much. We need to see quality across multiple matches.”
With Uganda sealing a ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, the journey—and the opportunity—continues.
For players like James Bogere and others, the global stage presents another vital window to showcase their potential, this time under even greater scrutiny and against the world’s best in their age group.
The qualification is also seen as a major platform for long-term scouting. European clubs such as Genk are already planning to track selected players at club level, assessing their development, personality, and off-pitch environment before deciding whether to move forward.
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni congratulated the team after their qualification, describing their victory as inspirational for the nation. “Your courage, discipline, and dedication have uplifted our hearts and inspired our nation,” she posted on Easter Monday.
With interest from clubs as diverse as Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain of the UAE, and major European academies, Uganda’s young footballers now find themselves at the heart of global football’s most competitive talent search.
For many, this is just the beginning of what could be life-changing careers.
