Uganda U17 nationwide group captain Owen Mukisa has delivered a robust rallying message forward of the Cubs’ opening problem on the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the group is able to compete with confidence, starvation, and perception.
Mukisa says the squad enters the match in excessive spirits after a formidable preparation camp in Morocco, the place Uganda registered back-to-back pleasant victories that sharpened each confidence and unity throughout the group.
The Cubs first beat Mozambique 3-1 earlier than edging Mali 1-0 in dramatic vogue, with substitute Arafat Ibanda scoring a stoppage-time winner to finish an ideal build-up run.
Now based mostly at Lycée d’Excellence (LYDEX), Uganda are finalising preparations forward of their Group B opener towards DR Congo on Thursday.
Reflecting on the group’s rising confidence, Mukisa highlighted the impression the preparatory matches have had on the squad.
These two preparational matches managed to present us confidence and we’ve a variety of beliefs and hopes,” Mukisa stated.
“The boys are working so laborious.”
Uganda are making their third look on the U-17 AFCON, having beforehand featured in 2019 and 2025. On each events, the Cubs have been eradicated on the group stage — a document Mukisa and his teammates are decided to vary this time.
This yr’s match carries even greater stakes, because it doubles as a qualification pathway to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
It needs to be famous that the highest 10 groups from the U-17 AFCON will qualify routinely as Africa’s representatives on the world showpiece.
Uganda have already got latest World Cup expertise, having made their debut on the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the place they reached the Spherical of 16 earlier than dropping to Burkina Faso. That marketing campaign stays their solely look on the match, and Mukisa now leads a squad decided to safe a second consecutive qualification.
The skipper additionally made it clear that Uganda’s ambitions stretch past merely collaborating on the continental showpiece.
Our objective is to achieve the World Cup,” Mukisa said firmly.
If we obtain our objective, then we will look ahead to the trophy.”
Past DR Congo, Uganda will even face Cameroon and Ivory Coast in what guarantees to be a extremely aggressive Group B marketing campaign.
