David GOMBE
Uganda U17 Men’s Football National Team, the Cubs kicked off their 2026 AFCON U17 campaign with a 3-0 triumph over DR Congo in a Group B contest on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
Goals from Captain Owen Mukisa, Nicholas Kawooya, and substitute Abdushakur Babi secured maximum points for the Cubs.
Skipper Mukisa gave Uganda the lead in the 37th minute when he headed home a quality Trevor Mubiru cross.
Before the halftime breather, Kawooya headed home a Mukisa’s well-delivered corner kick to double Uganda’s lead.
Mubiru who had a decent game was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for holding the ball in the second half.
Babi put the seal on Uganda’s victory when he scored the third goal in the closing stages of the contest.
Uganda under the stewardship of Laryea Kingston and his assistants Steven Bengo and Saddam Juma will return to action on Saturday against Cameroon.
Meanwhile, in the other Group B game Ivory Coast beat Cameroon 2-0 and will next face DR Congo.
The 2026 AFCON tournament in Morocco will run from 13th May to 2nd June.
All the teams that will reach the quarterfinals will progress to World Cup automatically, while two other teams will go through the playoff to make total of ten teams that will represent the continent.
Last year, Uganda edged The Gambia in the playoff to qualify for the first-ever FIFA World Cup tournament.
