The Uganda Cubs are the kings of East and Central Africa! In a breathtaking, nerve-shredding final at the Kigali Pele Stadium, Uganda defeated Somalia 6-5 on penalties following a grueling 0-0 draw in regulation time to lift the 2026 CECAFA U17 Championship trophy.
The hero of the night, Ugandan goalkeeper David Ssegirinya, delivered a legendary performance between the sticks, pulling off two vital saves during the shootout to seal the victory for the Cubs.
Having cruised through the tournament—including an 8-0 demolition of Burundi and a 4-0 semi-final win over Ethiopia—Uganda faced their toughest challenge yet against a highly disciplined and resilient Somali side.
Regulation time was defined by end-to-end tactical discipline and high drama. Uganda dominated large spells of possession in the second half, but the Somali defense held firm.
Late in the game, both sides had late opportunities to steal the win, but neither could break the deadlock after 90 minutes plus four minutes of added time, sending the final straight to spot-kicks.
When the pressure was at its absolute peak, David Ssegirinya stepped up.
In a shootout where nerve and composure were everything, Ssegirinya produced two remarkable saves to deny the Ocean Stars. His second crucial stop set up the winning moment for the Cubs, who held their composure to convert six of their penalties and trigger wild celebrations on the Kigali pitch.
Earlier in the day, tournament hosts Rwanda clinched third place after defeating Ethiopia 2-1 in a hard-fought bronze-medal playoffuganda.
The victory was double celebration for Rwanda, as it guaranteed them the final regional qualification slot for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
By reaching the final and taking the top spots in Kigali, Uganda, Somalia, and Rwanda have officially qualified for the U17 AFCON Finals.
