Uganda’s fairytale debut at the FIFA U17 World Cup gained new life on Friday night after substitute Derick Ssozi struck deep into stoppage time to earn the Cubs a dramatic 1–1 draw against Chile in Doha, Qatar.
For long spells, it seemed Uganda’s persistence would go unrewarded. Chile skipper Bruno Torres had nodded his side ahead late in the first half, and despite a brave response from Brian Ssenyondo’s charges, the equaliser proved elusive.
But the Cubs refused to fade. In the dying seconds, a last-gasp corner caused confusion in the Chile box, and when the ball broke loose, Ssozi reacted quickest — smashing it goalward amid a scramble of defenders. The Chileans protested, insisting it hadn’t crossed the line, but the referee’s signal confirmed history: Uganda had their first-ever goal at a FIFA tournament.
The strike sparked jubilant celebrations both on the pitch and on the Ugandan bench, perfectly capturing the spirit of a team refusing to be overawed on the global stage.
Earlier, Uganda had come close through James Bogere, whose fierce effort was palmed away, and another attempt that cannoned off the crossbar — moments that hinted at the belief running through this youthful side.
The result, coming after a narrow 2–1 loss to Canada, means Uganda remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages. They now turn their focus to a high-stakes final group clash against France on Tuesday — a game that could extend what has already been a historic World Cup journey.
