Kingston warns Uganda Cubs to stay focused ahead of Ethiopia clash

Monday

South Sudan v Sudan 2pm

Burundi v Ethiopia 5pm

Tanzania v Somalia 8pm

Wednesday

Somalia v Kenya 2:00 pm

Ethiopia v Uganda 5pm

Sudan v Rwanda 8pm

Uganda U-17 coach Laryea Kingston has warned his players to remain focused despite their emphatic 8-0 victory over Burundi as the Cubs prepare for Wednesday’s Group B clash against Ethiopia in the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

“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 after Saturday’s victory at Kigali Pelé Stadium in Rwanda.

Sebastian Fisher Quinn scored a hat-trick on his Uganda debut, while Arnold Kayemba added a brace and Arafat Ibanda, Nicholas Kawooya and Junior Afoyrwoth scored once each.

Kayemba opened the scoring in the 19th minute and doubled Uganda’s lead two minutes later. Ibanda and Kawooya added two more goals before half-time to give the Cubs a 4-0 advantage.

Fisher, 16, came off the bench in the 66th minute and scored in the 73rd, 84th and 89th minutes. Afoyrwoth also scored in the 76th minute as Uganda completed a dominant performance.

Kingston will now demand another disciplined display against Ethiopia, with a positive result strengthening Uganda’s chance of reaching the semifinals.

Fisher’s performance was particularly memorable because the Scotland-based striker plays for Partick Thistle’s academy in Glasgow. He and his 18-year-old brother, Olly Fisher, were born in Scotland but qualify to represent Uganda through their mother, Kate, who was born in Kampala.

While Sebastian is eligible for the Uganda Cubs, Olly qualifies for the Uganda Hippos, the U-20 national team. Their journey began about six months ago after their father met an international football consultant at a match in Nigeria. Discussions followed, and the brothers later attended Uganda’s U-17 and U-20 training camps.

Their grandparents also lived in Uganda for about four to five years, with their grandfather teaching at a local secondary school before Kate was born.

The Cubs face Ethiopia on Wednesday, at Kigali Pelé Stadium in their second and final Group B match. 

“We must respect Ethiopia, remain organised and take our chances when they come, because our target is to progress to the semifinals,” Kingston said.

Nine teams are competing in three groups, with the three group winners and the best-performing runner-up expected to advance to the semifinals. Three places at the 2027 AFCON U-17 finals are available, subject to the official competition regulations.

Group A comprises Rwanda, Sudan and South Sudan; Group B has Uganda, Ethiopia and Burundi; while Group C features Tanzania, Somalia and Kenya.

Saturday’s other fixtures included Rwanda against South Sudan, with Shyaka Khalifa scoring for Rwanda in the 54th minute. Tanzania beat Kenya 2-0.

Uganda has a strong record in the regional competition with three trophies won in 2018,2020 and 2024.

Uganda have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup twice, in 2025 and 2026. They made their debut in Qatar in 2025, reaching the Round of 16 after beating France 1-0, before securing a second consecutive appearance by defeating Ghana 8-7 on penalties in the 2026 CAF qualification play-off.

The CECAFA qualifiers’ semi finals are scheduled for Saturday 17, with the final on Monday 19.