Scotland-based youngster Sebastian Fisher made an impressive debut for Uganda’s U-17 national team, scoring a hat-trick as the Uganda Cubs thrashed Burundi 8-0 in the opening match of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers on Saturday.
Fisher came off the bench to make his mark in the Group B encounter at Kigali Pele Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, scoring his first goal in the 73rd minute before adding two more to complete a memorable hat-trick on his Uganda debut.
His clinical performance helped Uganda seal a commanding victory and make a strong statement in their quest to qualify for the continental finals.
Uganda had already established a comfortable lead before Fisher’s introduction, with Arnold Kayemba scoring twice in the opening 21 minutes. Arafat Ibanda and Nicholas Kawooya added further goals to send the Cubs into halftime with a 4-0 advantage.
Fisher then found the net in the closing stages, while Junior Ofoyrworth also got on the scoresheet as Uganda continued to dominate the contest.
The Scotland-based forward’s three-goal contribution was a major highlight of the match, marking a memorable start to his international career with Uganda.
Uganda head coach Laryea Kingston praised his team’s performance but stressed the importance of maintaining focus ahead of their next fixture.
“I am very happy with the win and the many goals the boys scored. We need to keep focused and prepare for our next match against Ethiopia,” Kingston said.
The Uganda Cubs will now turn their attention to Ethiopia as they look to build on their emphatic opening victory and strengthen their chances of progressing from Group B.
The 2027 U-17 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers feature teams competing for three places at next year’s continental finals, with Uganda aiming to continue their strong start to the campaign.
