Kingston plots another AFCON charge

Back with the Uganda Cubs after a demanding stint with the Hippos (U-20), Ghanaian tactician Laryea Kingston has returned with a sharp, anchoring message for his squad which is to respect the opposition but focus squarely on what Uganda can control.

As the Cubs settle into Kigali ahead of the 2027 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers, the stakes are high. Running from October 10 to 19, the tournament will unfold across the Kigali Pelé Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Centre.

Kingston, who successfully guided Uganda to the 2026 U-17 AFCON through the previous CECAFA qualifiers, is now hunting for a repeat performance as the nation seeks a fourth appearance at the continental finals.

Uganda’s rich regional pedigree has set expectations sky-high. The Cubs previously qualified for the U-17 AFCON three times: in 2019 under Peter Onen, 2025 under Brian Ssenyondo, and 2026 under Kingston. Their regional record reflects consistent dominance, starting when they won the 2018/19 qualifiers in Tanzania by beating Ethiopia 3-1. 

They followed it up by winning the 2020 edition in Rwanda 3-1 against Tanzania, though that continental tournament was ultimately cancelled. After finishing runners-up in the 2022 qualifiers in Ethiopia and missing out, the Cubs secured a berth at the 2025 AFCON by taking second place in the 2024 Kampala tournament, highlighted by a 4-1 semifinal victory over Somalia. 

They repeated that runner-up feat in Ethiopia in 2025, overcoming the hosts 3-0 in the semi-finals to seal qualification for the 2026 AFCON in Morocco. Now, Kigali presents the next chapter.

Uganda arrives in Rwanda having travelled on Tuesday, quickly shaking off travel fatigue with a positive first training session.

“The team is in good spirits. Yesterday we came in, and we did a lot of integration. We put them out there to run and then clear their lungs, which went very well,” Kingston said.

The regional draw places Uganda in Group B alongside hosts Ethiopia and Burundi. Group A consists of hosts Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, and South Sudan, while Group C features Tanzania, Kenya, and Djibouti. 

However, Djibouti’s recent withdrawal could force a restructuring of the groups, with official fixtures yet to be released. The tournament format dictates that the top team in each group, alongside the best runner-up, will progress to the semi-finals, while the two finalists and the winner of the third-place play-off will punch their tickets to the 2027 U-17 AFCON.

With the opening game scheduled for Saturday, Kingston is managing his players’ physical loads meticulously.

“Today is three days before match day. For us, we’re looking at areas that we need to improve. You know, we need to improve on how we can defend the spaces behind us. That’s where we focused on. Tomorrow we also have a different phase that we need to look at. I think today’s session went well,” Kingston explained.

“Because it’s three days to match day, we increased the volume a little bit for them. Tomorrow we’ll decrease it a little bit so that they get used to the situations, which we call tapering moments. Overall, I think the group is looking good. Today’s training went well. Tomorrow we come back again and then focus on a different phase. That can conflict with what we worked on today.”

Having spent a year working in East African football, Kingston feels confident in his understanding of the regional mindset, yet he refuses to be overly consumed by external threats. 

“I think we’re on a good track and we’re looking forward to playing on Saturday’s opening game. I’ve spent one year in East Africa. At the moment, I know how the East African teams think,” he noted. 

“You know, in all the teams that have qualified to this competition, we have so much respect for every team. But at the moment, we have two hurdles to jump, which are Ethiopia and Burundi. So at the moment, we’re focusing on them.”

Having watched both nations, Kingston expects them to be proactive and willing to play open football, much like Uganda. However, his philosophy prioritises internal execution over early opponent obsession. 

“Watching two countries, I think they also want to play football. Same as us. But at the end of the day, I don’t really like to focus on the opponent too much,” he said. 

“We have a game plan. After the first game, that’s when we all understand that we’ve seen the opponent, their strengths, their weaknesses. That’s how we start opponent analysis.” 

Balancing analytical patience with deep sportsmanship, he added: “Much respect for every team that is in the competition… They also want to play good football. So we all have to pay particular attention to each other. And then during the day of games, we need to adapt and adjust to whatever the opponent throws at us.”

Reassured by the attitude of his young players, Kingston believes the squad is primed for battle. “We are ready. We can see the team; the boys are in good spirits. They’re working hard in training. Preparation has been very good. So we are ready to compete,” he affirmed. 

Kingston has named a 20-player squad for the campaign, featuring several youngsters from the last AFCON tournament where Uganda notably qualified for the World Cup scheduled for next month. 

Returning core players include Henry Muhoozi, Arafat Ibanda, and Nicholas Kawooya. The squad also includes Isaiah Swaibu Matthews of Arsenal, though FUFA Corporate Affairs Director Ahmed Hussein clarified that the young talent will not feature in the active matches, but will instead travel with the team for vital acclimatisation.

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