Where in the world would Uganda dream of beating France at a competitive football tournament? Nowhere, but it just happened.
The Uganda Cubs pulled off one of the biggest surprises in youth football by defeating three-time champions and last year’s finalists France 1-0 at the Aspire Zone in Qatar to qualify for the round of 32 at the 2025 Fifa U-17 World Cup.
Coach Brian Ssenyondo’s boys went into the final Group K encounter needing nothing short of a victory to keep their World Cup dream alive.
After squandering a lead in their opening match against Canada and trailing Chile for 90 minutes before Bogere grabbed a point, Uganda entered this decisive fixture determined to correct their defensive lapses particularly from set pieces that had cost them dearly.
Ssenyondo made just one change from the side that drew 1-1 with Chile by slotting in Arafat Nkoola for the injured John Asiimwe. The adjustment injected energy and balance into Uganda’s set-up as the Cubs launched into the match with intensity and belief.
James Bogere, already Uganda’s top scorer, won an early free kick but Uganda couldn’t make it count. France soon threatened through winger Himbert whose floated delivery was headed home by Abdoulaye Camara but video reviews ruled the goal out for offside.
Uganda immediately turned defense into attack. In the 18th minute, Elvis Torach switched with a long ball to Hamuza Sengooba who broke free on the right flank, beat his marker and cut in a low pass into the box.
Bogere was waiting. With a sumptuous first touch, he curled the ball past the sprawling French keeper to spark wild celebrations among the Ugandan contingent. The French bench demanded another video check on Isma Magala’s positioning during the build-up but the review showed no interference.
From then, France pressed harder but Uganda held firm. Nkoola nearly doubled the lead midway through the second half after slaloming through a thicket of blue shirts, only to see his strike deflected for a corner.
Late on, hearts were in mouths when Jovan Mukisa was suspected of handling inside the area, but video replays cleared him relieving the tension that had gripped Ssenyondo and his bench.
Meanwhile, chaos unfolded in the parallel fixture, where Chile came from behind to beat Canada 2-1 leaving all four Group K teams tied on four points with head to head records going into a merry-go-round.
Uganda’s superior goal record, however, saw them sneak through ahead of Chile as one of the best third-placed teams to the knockout stages. Uganda will await all group games to conclude to determine their final ranking and opponent for the round of 32 set for Friday and Saturday.