Uganda U-17 head coach Laryea Kingston says his side’s qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON 2026 is a testament to their progress, after the Cubs sealed their place with a convincing 3–0 win over Ethiopia in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers on Sunday.
The victory also booked Uganda a place in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers final.
Speaking to the media after the match, Kingston reflected on the significance of the result, the conditions his team faced, the growth of key players and the steady evolution of Uganda’s playing identity.
On the value of the win and the level within CECAFA
“First of all, this is a very competitive tournament,” Kingston said. “I have always respected everything about this competition. Some teams are stronger than others, and two that have impressed me the most are Ethiopia and Tanzania. For me, all three nations deserve to represent CECAFA because they are doing the right things in their development.
“Ethiopia are on the right track, Tanzania are doing amazing work, and we as a group are progressing well.”
On the difficulty of executing their usual style
“I believe in keeping the ball. I don’t believe in long balls unless they have a clear purpose. I always want my team to play,” he explained.
“But the pitch did not help us. The ball was bouncing the entire game, which made it hard to execute our plans. Dira Dawa had an amazing surface, and if we want to educate young players and prepare them for Europe or the World Cup, we must give them good facilities.
“I told my staff before kick-off that moving the ball would be difficult—and it showed.”
On Henry Muhoozi’s performance and development
“Muhoozi is an adorable kid,” Kingston said. “I remember when the players were first presented for selection. He came in as an attacking player, but based on the way I want the team to play, I needed someone who can handle the ball in tight spaces and make things happen.
“Out of the 66 players I assessed, no one could do that role better than him. When I moved him to the number six position there were critics, but every coach is different. A player Guardiola will sign may not be one Mourinho will sign.
“For me, my number six must be excellent on the ball and he fits that description. He is smart, composed, and has a very bright future.”
On shaping the team’s playing identity
“We still have a long way to go, and we have a detailed style-of-play book that covers many phases,” Kingston revealed.
“With the limited time we have, I must focus on short-term basics: making sure the players understand key concepts in the build-up, then gradually moving into the attacking phases. Defensively, we reverse the process and simplify everything.
“I give full credit to the players because not every young player learns quickly, but these boys surprised me. I kept telling my backroom staff how impressed I was.”
By: Pascal Amoah
