Uganda’s U-17 World Cup qualifiquation Sparks Football buzz

Uganda is celebrating a historic moment after the national Under-17 boys football team beat The Gambia 2-1 at the Africa U-17 Championship in Morocco, qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this November. This will be Uganda’s first-ever appearance at any FIFA World Cup, and the win has stirred excitement across the country.

The players returned to a hero’s welcome with a celebratory breakfast at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. But beyond the joy, the victory has raised bigger questions: How can Uganda make this kind of success a regular story, not a one-time event?

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According to Paul Mukatabala, FUFA’s National Teams Manager, Uganda clearly has raw talent. Players like James Bogere, a natural striker, have shown that the country can produce world-class footballers. But Mukatabala warned that without long-term planning, this might be a lucky break not the start of something sustainable.

Some of the players, including Bogere, Hamza Ssengooba, and Elvis Torach, were trained at El Cambio Academy, where kids combine academics with football. At El Cambio, players train for at least three hours a day, which is not the case in most Ugandan schools. Many schools focus entirely on academics, leaving no room for consistent training—resulting in wasted talent.

A Need for Balance: Books and Balls

This issue was raised last year when FUFA President Moses Magogo launched the FIFA for Schools program. He was asked how young players could grow in both academics and football. Magogo said they would present best practices to the government, but until now, there's been no clear national plan to balance the two.

Future Warnings: Avoiding a One-Off Story

Football analyst Tom Damulira compared Uganda’s moment to Rwanda’s short-lived success, saying, “They made it to the U-17 World Cup in 2014, but haven’t returned since.” Damulira warned that unless Uganda becomes a regular presence at these competitions, this excitement might fade fast.

Consistency will attract scouts and foreign clubs. Right now, Uganda is on the radar, but staying there requires a bigger scouting system, more resources, and better youth planning.

Deeper Gaps Revealed

Mukatabala pointed out another concern Uganda’s U-17 team had no natural left-back, a clear sign of limited scouting reach. Even when Abubaker Walusimbi and Brian Ijara failed their MRI scans and missed the tournament, the midfield lacked depth. This shows the need to invest in more countrywide scouting and training clinics, similar to what is done in West Africa.

Final Word: This Is Just the Start

Uganda’s U-17 World Cup qualification is a huge achievement, but real progress means building a system where such wins become common. Schools must balance sports with studies, academies need more support, and FUFA must lead long-term planning.