The Uganda Cubs are champions of the CECAFA Zone U-17 AFCON Qualifiers.
The Cubs defended Tanzania 2-1 in the finals of the championship played at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo on Friday, December 27, 2024.
The Cubs came from a goal down to win in Tanzania; Abel Josiah Samson opened the score for Tanzania only 11 minutes into the game.
Uganda got its equalizer through Arafat Nkoola in the 63rd minute of play, and with the clock ticking away, James Bogere scored Uganda’s second goal from a tight angle past Tanzania’s goalkeeper Abrahman Nassoro after 88 minutes.
It was all celebrations for the local fans after the final whistle.
The head coach, Brian Ssenyondo, expressed his gratitude to the player for their resilience.
“I am happy that the players continued to fight even after conceding a goal and won the match,” said a happy Ugandan coach, Ssenyondo, after the match.
In an earlier playoff match, Somalia beat South Sudan 4-2 in penalty shootouts after the match had ended 2-2.
James Bogere was awarded top soccer player with seven goals in the Championship, while Abubakali Walusimbi was awarded Best Player.
Tanzania’s goalkeeper Abrahman Nassoro got the golden boot, and the Tanzania team also got the Fair Play Award.
The CECAFA first vice president, Augustino Madout Parek; second vice president, Alexandre Muyengye; and Exco member, Doris Petra, together with the FUFA president, Moses Hassim Magogo, and the Ugandan state minister for sports, Petr Ogwang, also attended the awards ceremony.
Both Uganda and Tanzania have qualified to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies CAFA U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 that will take place in Morocco.
