In a historic masterclass that will be talked about for years to come, East African youth football has officially taken over the global stage. Kenyan-based Legacy Football Academy’s B14 squad has been crowned the ultimate champions of the 2026 Gothia Cup, becoming the first-ever team from East Africa to win a Play-off A title at the B14 competition level.
At the heart of this phenomenal, unbeaten European campaign was Ugandan forward prodigy Ssenteza Kalanzi Levi, whose sensational performances upfront helped spearhead the academy to their first-ever Gothia Cup medal.
Legacy Academy put on a flawless display of football in Sweden, going completely unbeaten through all nine of their matches.
The squad didn’t just win; they dominated. The side netted a staggering 33 goals across the tournament while tightly locking down their defense to concede a mere two goals.
The dream run culminated in a tense, high-stakes final at the iconic SKF Arena against Lerums IS. The match-deciding moment came courtesy of forward David Jesse Adama, who fired home the only goal of the match to secure a 1-0 victory, sending the East African contingent and traveling fans into pure ecstasy.
Speaking after the historic victory, the B14 Head Coach, Derrick Otieno, could not hide his pride in the squad’s immense mental fortitude. “This trophy belongs to every player who has ever put on a Legacy jersey,” Coach Otieno remarked. “These boys showed discipline and composure under pressure that you don’t often see at this age. Winning it here, on this stage, as the first team from our region to do it—that’s bigger than football.”
Match-winner David Jesse Adama added, “Playing at the global stage has always been a dream, and today this win made it feel a reality. But that goal was for the whole team and everyone back home supporting us.”
Legacy Football Academy sent a powerful 89-person delegation to Sweden across five age groups (B11, B12, B13, B14, and B16). While four of the teams put up incredible fights to reach the quarter-finals, it was the B14 squad that went all the way to capture the ultimate prize.
Legacy Academy’s path to the trophy was a masterclass in tactical discipline and ruthless finishing:
The Group Stage Dominance (Group 13):
Legacy Academy 4–0 IF Centern Vit
Solangens BK 1–7 Legacy Academy
Legacy Academy 7–0 IFK Nykoping 1
Virestad IF 0–3 Legacy Academy
The Knockout Masterclass (Play-off A):
Round of 16:
Legacy Academy 2–0 IF Centern Bla
Round of 8: Nykopings BI 0–3 Legacy Academy
Quarter-Final: Legacy Academy 3–1 CEF 18 Tucuman
Semi-Final: Legacy Academy 3–0 ProGen FC
Final: Lerums IS 0–1 Legacy Academy
