Uganda U17 head coach Brian Ssenyondo says his side is ready to face the world’s best as they begin preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025.
The Cubs regrouped this week for their first training session since their impressive run at the AFCON U17 Finals in Morocco, where they secured World Cup qualification.
Ssenyondo expressed delight at seeing his squad back in action, describing the moment as both exciting and emotional.
“After a long time since we came back from Morocco, we are excited to see the boys back with us preparing for the World Cup,” he said. “We know it will be tough, but we are not less than that; we are also tougher.”
The coach outlined his immediate goal — advancing from the group stage — before taking the tournament “game by game.”
“Our first target is to come out of the group stage,” he said. “Once we do that, anything is possible because the knockout games can go either way. This is a historic moment for all of us, for the federation, and for Uganda.”
He urged the young players to seize the opportunity to showcase their potential, saying it could be a stepping stone to higher national levels. “Many have the potential to progress to the U20 and senior teams,” Ssenyondo noted.
In a personal revelation, Ssenyondo confirmed that the upcoming tournament will mark his final assignment as U17 head coach. He said this decision followed earlier discussions with FUFA President Moses Magogo during the team’s AFCON campaign in Morocco.
“Before we even qualified, I told the FUFA President that after the World Cup, I would wish to step down because it would be the peak of my tenure,” he said. “After qualification, I formally wrote to FUFA to thank them for the opportunity, and they supported my decision to move on to other national categories.”
Ssenyondo, who described himself as “an ambitious young man,” added that he is proud to bow out on a high. “After my last game at the World Cup, that will mark the end of my tenure. I will move with my head held high, knowing that we did our best for Uganda and achieved our dreams,” he said.
FUFA also released a provisional 47-man squad for the World Cup, featuring a blend of local-based and international players. Among them are Pantaleo Creti from Grasshopper Club Zürich, Akiz Job Aguma from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Etham Adeleke Afuga Adreas Oyedele from Bradfield College in the UK.
The tournament in Qatar will be Uganda’s debut appearance at the FIFA U17 World Cup — a milestone moment for the team, the federation, and Ugandan football.
