Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has guided Uganda’s Under-17 side to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, eliminating Ghana’s Black Starlets in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Uganda prevailed 8-7 on penalties after the two sides played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in normal time, with Uganda coming from behind twice to force the shootout.
Eric Gyamfi gave Ghana the lead after just nine minutes, but Owen Mukisa equalised for Uganda after 34 minutes. Ghana restored their advantage through Abdul Latif on the 51st minute, before Arafat Ibanda converted a late penalty in stoppage time to level matters and force a shootout.
Defender Jacob Kpoeti missed Ghana’s decisive penalty in sudden death, allowing Travor Mubiru to step up and seal Uganda’s qualification.
The result extends Ghana’s absence from the FIFA U-17 World Cup to nine years, with their last appearance having come in 2017.
In a cruel twist of fate, the man who ended Ghana’s hopes was once the head coach of the very side he defeated. Kingston took charge of Uganda’s youth teams in 2025 and became the first Ghanaian coach to qualify Uganda’s U-17 side for a major international tournament.
Uganda will now participate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup for only the second time, having first achieved the feat the previous year. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13, 2026.
