Uganda’s U-17 side took a majestic leap toward continental football glory on a cool semifinal evening, dismantling Ethiopia 3–0 in the CECAFA Qualifiers with the confidence of a team far older than their years. It wasn’t just a win, it was a statement, a thunderous knock on the doors of African football announcing that the Young Cranes have arrived, talons sharp and wings spread wide.
From the first whistle, Uganda played like artists with a mission, painting patterns of possession across the pitch with brushstroke precision. Ethiopia tried to match the rhythm, but the young Cranes’ tempo was a raging river, too fast, too forceful, too unrelenting.
The breakthrough came after the interval, and it arrived in style.
In the 52nd minute, Lorian Lwesinawa sliced through Ethiopia’s backline with the coolness of a seasoned finisher, slotting in the opener that cracked the game wide open. Barely two minutes later, Thomas Ogema struck again, an emphatic second that sent Uganda’s fans into rapture and Ethiopia scrambling for answers.
Lwesinawa wasn’t done. At the 78-minute mark, he returned to twist the knife with a brilliant brace-clincher, a goal that iced the victory and underscored Uganda’s dominance. Ethiopia pushed, probed, and prayed for a lifeline, but every attempt was swallowed by Uganda’s disciplined defense, an iron wall that refused to bend.
With this commanding win, Uganda not only storms into the CECAFA final but also officially books a coveted slot at the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026. For a nation steadily climbing the football ladder, this triumph feels like yet another sunrise, warm, bright, and full of promise.
The streets, pundits, and social feeds alike are humming with praise. Many are calling this squad the “second Cubs,” heirs to the history-making group that reached the World Cup. Their maturity, tactical elegance, and fearless spirit suggest a future where Ugandan football doesn’t just participate, but reigns.
Uganda now awaits their final opponent, stepping into the championship match with confidence surging and dreams expanding. If this semifinal was the roar, the final might just be the flight.
The skies ahead look golden. The Young Cranes are soaring.
