Uganda’s national Under-17 football team, the Cubs, made a flying start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign on Saturday, thrashing Burundi 8-0 in their opening Group B match in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Cubs, coached by Laryea Kingston, delivered a dominant performance at Kigali Pele Stadium, with Arnold Kayemba scoring twice and substitute Sebastian Fisher Quinn netting a hat-trick to cap an emphatic victory.
Kayemba opened the scoring in the 19th minute before doubling Uganda’s lead two minutes later, putting the Cubs firmly in control.
Arafat Ibanda extended the advantage in the 34th minute, while Nicholas Kawooya added the fourth goal in the 38th minute to give Uganda a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time.
The Cubs maintained their attacking momentum after the break, with Fisher Quinn coming off the bench to score in the 74th minute.
Junior Afoyrwoth made it 6-0 in the 77th minute before Fisher Quinn struck twice more, in the 84th and 89th minutes, to complete his hat-trick and seal the eight-goal rout.
The result gives Uganda an early advantage in Group B, where they are competing against Burundi and Ethiopia for a place in the knockout stages of the regional championship.
Kingston welcomed the emphatic win but urged his players to remain focused as they prepare for their next fixture against Ethiopia.
“I am very happy with the win and the many goals the boys scored. We need to keep focused and prepare for our next match against Ethiopia,” Kingston said.
The Cubs will face Ethiopia in their next Group B encounter as they seek to advance to the semi-finals and move closer to securing a place at the continental finals.
The 2026 Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Under-17 Championship is being held in Rwanda from October 10 to 19 and serves as the regional qualification pathway for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Three qualification slots are available at the tournament, with the finalists and the winner of the third-place play-off earning places at the continental finals.
Uganda entered the competition seeking to reclaim regional honours after finishing runners-up to Tanzania in the previous edition held in Ethiopia.
The Cubs have established themselves as a competitive force in regional youth football, winning several CECAFA Under-17 titles and using the competition as a pathway to continental and global tournaments.
Uganda’s recent youth-football campaigns have included qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in both 2025 and 2026, further raising expectations for the current squad.
The emphatic victory over Burundi provides a significant confidence boost for Kingston and his players as they pursue a place at the 2027 continental championship.