UGANDA CUBS & TANZANIA SEAL AFCON SPOTS, SET FOR CECAFA FINAL
The Uganda Cubs secured their spot at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON 2026 by dominating Ethiopia 3-0. They now face Tanzania in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers Final.
Uganda's youth team, the Uganda Cubs, are heading back to the big stage at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2026!
They grabbed their spot by beating host country Ethiopia 3-0 in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers semifinal this past Sunday at Abebe Bikila Stadium.
Coach Laryea Kingston was very pleased with the team's achievement of their initial goal.
I'm happy we reached our first target, which was to get to the AFCON U-17. "Now we are aiming to win the whole thing," he said.
He added, Winning is great, and getting here is great, but what's most important is that our players grow and learn to play the right way.
Uganda scored all three goals in the second half. Lorian Lwesibawa kicked things off in the 52nd minute, firing a shot after Uganda kept the pressure on Ethiopia's defence. Just two minutes later, Thomas Ogema calmly scored to make it 2-0. Lwesibawa later scored again in the 78th minute with a beautiful free kick, sealing the deal.
Kingston has been building a team around key players like Captain Owen Mukisa (Seth Soccer Academy), Thomas Ogema (KCCA), Travor Mubiru (Vipers Junior Team), Henry Muhoozi (Amus College School), Arnold Kayemba (El Cambio), and Ismail Fahad (KCCA FC).
Earlier that day, Tanzania became the first CECAFA nation to make it to the tournament, defeating Kenya 3-1 in the first semifinal match.
Tanzania survived an early scare when goalkeeper Haji Ally Abdallah blocked a penalty kick from Saidi Makangila after he fouled Derrick Muchiti Obote. Tanzania then took the lead with goals from Nhingo Juma in the 19th minute and Luqman Ally in the 30th.
Kenya got one back in the 84th minute through Armstrong Omondi, but Soann Shabani, who came off the bench, scored a third goal for Tanzania late in the game.
With the semifinal wins, Uganda joins Tanzania as CECAFA representatives. The winner of the third-place match will get the region's final spot.
Uganda will now play Tanzania in the final on Tuesday, 2nd, at 3:30 pm at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.
This is a rematch of the group-stage game that Tanzania won 2-1. It's also a rematch of last year’s final, which Uganda won 2-1 at Nakivubo Stadium with goals from Arafat Nkoola and James Bogere.
Uganda, as the current CECAFA U17 champions, will be working hard to defend its title.
LIFE AFTER OKELLO: HOW ABDULKARIM WATAMBALA BECAME VIPERS' NEW MIDFIELD COMMANDER
Vipers SC dismantled Police FC 4-1 at Kitende, led by a stunning AbdulKarim Watambala goal to extend their lead at the UPL summit.
Vipers came out flying, up 3-0 by halftime against a stunned Police squad. Once again, AbdulKarim Watambala pulled the strings in midfield, making everything tick.
With this 4-1 thumping at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Vipers held onto their three-point lead at the top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League heading into the last games of the first round.
Honestly, what was supposed to be a top-of-the-table clash turned into a breeze for the defending champions. They probably played their best half of football since Ivan Minnaert took over as head coach last July.
Watambala, who’s looked like a new man since his close friend Allan Okello left, set up the opener for Milton Karisa with a clever through ball. Karisa made no mistake, poking the ball past a scrambling Mathias Muwanga in the 32nd minute.
Then came the moment of the night. Watambala picked up a pass from Enoch Ssebagala just outside the box, and with police defenders backing off, he smashed a rocket in off the underside of the crossbar. That was his third goal in two games, after his brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over URA.
Right before halftime, Odili Chukwuma put the game to bed, heading in Usama Arafat’s cross after nutmegging Richard Matovu.
Police barely threatened all evening, but Saidi Kyeyune managed to pull one back with a low shot just four minutes into the second half. It didn’t matter much. Vipers stretched their lead again in the 77th minute, when substitute Yunus Sentamu headed the ball across for Usama to tap in their fourth.
The win pushes the Vipers to 33 points. Police drop to third with 27. KCCA move into second place after brushing aside UPDF 4-0. Sammy Ssebaduka grabbed two goals, with Joel Sserunjogi and substitute Alpha Ssali also on the scoresheet.
UPL UPDATES: KCCA FC HELD IN LUZIRA WHILE POLICE FC CLOSE THE GAP AT TOP
Police FC move to second after beating Calvary, while KCCA is held to a goalless draw by Maroons in a rusty MD13 clash.
After beating Calvary, Police moved up to second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. KCCA didn't score against Maroons, and Entebbe UPPC beat UPDF, keeping the title race close on match day 13.
Police grabbed second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League after a 2-0 win against Calvary at Kiira Road on Wednesday.
Breaks during the season are usually a time for teams to regroup and let players rest after many games in a short time. But for the Uganda Premier League, there hasn't been much going on since mid-December, partly because of the 2025 AFCON.
Today's game between Maroons and KCCA in Luzira was different. Both teams seemed out of practice, which might explain the dull game that ended with no score.
Neither team seemed ready to push for a win, and there were few chances to score.
KCCA and Maroons each played one game between December 17 and today, losing to Police and Buhimba United Saints, respectively. That's just one game in 35 days.
Maroons played a physical game, preventing KCCA from controlling the ball and playing their usual style. This could be why coach Brian Ssenyondo took out Ashraf Mugume and Saidi Mayanja at halftime, replacing them with Brian Jjara and Derrick Nsibambi.
The home team kept KCCA away from the goal, and even when they brought in another striker, Emmanuel Anyama, later in the second half, they didn't get many chances.
Maroons defended well as a team to earn a point, putting them in seventh place with 16 points.
For KCCA FC, this result is a setback in their chase for the title. They are tied for first place with 27 points, the same as Police, who beat Calvary FC, and Vipers, who have two games left.
Wednesday's results:
Maroons 0-0 KCCA
Police 2-0 Calvary
UPDF 0-1 Entebbe UPPC