For Uganda, the football journey has often crossed paths with one stubborn opponent, Senegal. From Cairo to Kampala, and now to Qatar, the Lions of Teranga have been both a test and a tormentor for Ugandan football.
As the Uganda Cubs prepare to face Senegal in the Round of 32 at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, many fans can’t help but whisper the same familiar words: “It’s Senegal, yet again.”
This isn’t just another match. It’s the latest chapter in a story of heartbreak, resilience, and hope, a rivalry that has spanned more than a decade.
2012 and 2013 – The World Cup Qualifiers Begin the Story
The first modern chapter of this rivalry unfolded during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2012 and 2013.
Uganda, then under coach Micho Sredojević, went toe-to-toe with a star-studded Senegalese side. In Kampala, the Cranes held the Lions to a 1–1 draw, with Godfrey Walusimbi cancelling out Papiss Cissé’s opener.
But in the return leg in Dakar, the West Africans showed their class. Sadio Mané, still a rising star at the time, scored the only goal to end Uganda’s dream of reaching Brazil 2014.
That result planted the first seed of what would grow into one of Uganda’s most frustrating football rivalries.
2017 – A Glimpse of Balance
Four years later, the two sides met again in an international friendly in 2017.
There were no goals this time, just ninety minutes of tactical tension and mutual respect. The 0–0 draw in Marrakech showed how far Uganda had come, able to match one of Africa’s top sides stride for stride.
The match might not have made headlines, but it laid the foundation for a growing belief that Uganda could compete with Senegal on any stage.
2019 – The Curse Takes Shape
Then came Cairo, 2019, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Uganda’s second consecutive appearance after decades in the wilderness.
The Cranes, led by Sébastien Desabre, impressed in the group stages, reaching the Round of 16 for the first time since 1978. Confidence was high; belief was alive.
But once again, destiny wore green. Sadio Mané, now a Liverpool superstar, struck the only goal of the game to send Uganda home.
It was a bitter ending, and the beginning of what fans began to call “the Senegal curse.”
2023 – A Moment of Revenge
Uganda’s only taste of victory against Senegal came at the 2023 CHAN tournament in Algeria.
This time, Milton Karisa, captain of Vipers SC, scored the lone goal as Uganda edged Senegal 1–0 in the group stage.
For once, the Cranes roared louder than the Lions. It was a small but symbolic win — proof that the curse could be broken, even if only for a night.
2024 – Heartbreak at Home
The rivalry reignited in 2024, when Uganda co-hosted the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Cranes made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time, and the home crowd at Namboole Stadium was buzzing with belief. But the script was all too familiar.
A single strike from Oumar Ba crushed Uganda’s hopes, handing Senegal yet another 1–0 win and silencing a stadium that had been bursting with pride.
Uganda had made progress, but the Lions of Teranga still had the final say.
2024 – A Friendly Reminder in Tanzania
Before that CHAN heartbreak, the two teams had met in a warm-up friendly in Tanzania, where Uganda snatched a 2–1 victory.
Arnold Odong and Patrick Kakande were the heroes that day, while Moctar Koita netted for Senegal. It was another encouraging friendly triumph, but not enough to heal the wounds left by competitive defeats.
2025 – The Cubs Step Forward
Now, in 2025, the stage has shifted to Qatar, and it’s the U-17 Uganda Cubs carrying the nation’s hopes.
For the first time ever, a Ugandan national team, at any level, is competing at a FIFA World Cup tournament. Under coach Brian Ssenyondo, the Cubs have already made history by reaching the knockout stages.
And yet, fate has chosen a familiar opponent once more: Senegal, the same side that has stopped Uganda time and again.
Breaking the Jinx
For these young Cubs, Saturday’s Round of 32 clash is more than just a football match, it’s a mission to rewrite history.
They carry the dreams of all who came before them: the players who lost in Cairo, the fans silenced at Namboole, and the generations who dared to believe that one day Uganda would break free from Senegal’s shadow.
Senegal come with pedigree, power, and pride. But Uganda arrive with something stronger, heart, hunger, and history to make.
Maybe this time, the story ends differently.
Maybe, just maybe, the Cubs will roar louder than the Lions.
