Doha, Qatar – The Uganda Cubs, coached by Brian Ssenyondo, delivered a historic and inspiring campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, capturing the admiration of fans across the globe. Their remarkable journey came to an end after a hard-fought match against Burkina Faso at the Aspire Zone Complex Pitch 5, where they drew 1–1 in regular time before narrowly losing 5–3 on penalties.

The match opened with balanced exchanges, with both teams creating chances but failing to break the deadlock. Uganda eventually struck first in the 56th minute when Arafat Nkoola curled in a superb finish to give the Cubs a deserved lead. Burkina Faso, who had earlier stunned tournament favorites Germany, mounted intense pressure and equalized in the 77th minute through Alassana Bagayogo. The Cubs held firm defensively and pushed for a winner, but the match went to penalties, where Burkina Faso converted all their spot-kicks to advance to the quarterfinals for a meeting with Italy.

Off the pitch, the Cubs received a morale boost when H.E. Ambassador Dr. Stephen Chemoikolo Chebort and Deputy Ambassador Mohammed Kezaala visited the team at their hotel in Qatar.

The diplomats encouraged the young players, emphasizing the unifying spirit of football and the pride they were bringing to Uganda. Their visit symbolized how sports diplomacy continues to strengthen youth motivation, national identity, and Uganda’s global presence.

FUFA President Moses Hassim Magogo commended the team for their outstanding performance, noting that they represented Uganda with dignity and passion on one of the biggest stages in youth football. He highlighted their courage, discipline, and determination as qualities that will be celebrated for years to come.

The Cubs’ path to the knockout stages was equally inspiring. They opened with a narrow 2–1 loss to Canada, where James Bogere scored Uganda’s first-ever World Cup goal after a brilliant through pass from Brian Jjara. Uganda then battled to a 1–1 draw with Chile, thanks to Derrick Ssozi’s composed equalizer.

Their campaign gained momentum with a stunning 1–0 victory over 2001 champions France through Bogere’s second goal. In the round of 32, Uganda defeated Senegal’s Young Lions of Teranga 1–0, courtesy of an early strike from Abubakar Walusimbi.

The Cubs concluded the tournament as true history-makers, earning global respect for their resilience, talent, and unforgettable performances.