The Uganda U17 Men’s National Team, the Cubs, has safely arrived in Doha, Qatar, marking another major step in their historic journey to the FIFA U17 World Cup — Uganda’s first-ever appearance at the global tournament.
The young stars departed Dubai early Saturday morning after a nine-day training camp that included three international friendlies against Venezuela, Panama, and Paraguay. The camp provided valuable exposure and tactical sharpening as the Cubs gear up to face the world’s best.
Speaking before departure, assistant captain Walusimbi Abubakali expressed optimism about the team’s readiness and mindset.
“This was our last sweat in Dubai, now we head to Qatar. The friendly matches gave us a good test and great experience — we’ve really learned lessons from them,” Walusimbi said.
He added that the players have quickly adjusted to the Middle Eastern conditions and are mentally prepared for the tournament’s demands.
“The weather here is actually not too different from home, so we’ll not face many challenges with it. We’ve already switched from friendly game mode to competition mode, and I can promise we’ll do our best to represent the country well.”
Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo, who unveiled the final 21-man squad earlier this week, voiced confidence in his players.
“We believe this is the best squad to represent us in Qatar,” Ssenyondo stated. “We’ve only added a few new faces who weren’t with us during AFCON, but the core of the team remains intact.”
Okello Richard will captain the Cubs, assisted by Walusimbi Abubakali, Sengooba Hamuza, and Bogere James.
The team will be based at Holiday Villa Hotel and Residence – City Center Doha, and will open their World Cup campaign against Canada on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, with kickoff set for 6:45 pm (local time and EAT).
