Uganda U-17 head coach Laryea Kingston has opted for a blend of continental experience and emerging talent as the Cubs embark on another bid to reach the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Kingston has named his final 20-man squad for the CECAFA Zone U-17 Championship in Rwanda, where Uganda will compete from October 10–19 for a place at the continental finals.
The squad retains several players who were part of Uganda’s previous U-17 AFCON campaign, including Henry Muhoozi, Arafat Ibanda and Nicholas Kawooya, giving Kingston a core of players already accustomed to the demands of international youth football.
The Cubs’ recent progress on the continental stage provides added motivation, with Uganda having reached the previous U-17 AFCON finals and subsequently secured qualification for their second successive U-17 World Cup.
Among the most intriguing names on Kingston’s list is Isaiah Swaibu Matthews, the Arsenal youngster who has been included in the travelling party despite being unavailable for the matches.
FUFA Corporate Affairs Director Ahmed Hussein explained that Matthews will accompany the squad primarily to gain international exposure, experience the team environment and acclimatise with his Ugandan teammates.
The decision offers the highly rated youngster an opportunity to become familiar with the national-team setup while Kingston assesses the wider pool of talent available to Uganda.
The Cubs are scheduled to depart for Rwanda on Tuesday, October 6, with Kingston selecting three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and five forwards for the campaign.
Uganda will be seeking to navigate the regional qualifiers successfully and maintain its recent presence at the highest level of African youth football.
Uganda Cubs Final 20-Man Squad
Goalkeepers
1. Obbo Rodrick Collins — KCCA Junior Team
2. Dean David Segirinya — Rays of Grace Soccer Academy
3. Mubiru Godfrey — AMUS College
Defenders
4. Martin Paecel Kayiwa — URA Junior Team
5. Sumaku Mutawakali — Rays of Grace Academy
6. Jemba Ukasha Abdulshafie — KCCA Junior Team
7. Najib Kivumbi — Excel Soccer Academy
8. Wandera Abudallah — Rays of Grace Soccer Academy
9. Shaldon Ssevume — KS Sparta 09
10. Isaiah Swaibu Matthews — Arsenal FC
Midfielders
11. Henry Muhoozi — AMUS College
12. Yusuf Ssenyonga — Bukedea Comprehensive School
13. Arnold Kayemba — El Cambio Academy
14. Jeremiah Bwire — Jinja S.S.
15. Joseph Ssebufuu — Kampala Junior Team
Forwards
16. Harold Egwangu Richard — Buckswood School Football Academy, England
17. Junior Ofoyrthe — El Cambio Soccer Academy
18. Nicholas Kawooya — Budoo SS
19. Arafaat Ibanda — Ebenezer Soccer Academy
20. Sebastian Fisher — Partick Thistle
