By 
Uganda Cubs Head Coach Laryea Kingston has praised his side’s impressive start to the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, describing their opening-day victory as a well-earned reward for weeks of hard work.
Uganda opened their Group B campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over DR Congo on Wednesday, delivering a composed and clinical performance that immediately placed them among the early contenders in the group.
“It’s a great result for the boys. I think the boys did very well,” Kingston said after the match, reflecting on a performance he believes was built on disciplined preparation.
He highlighted the challenge faced by a young squad, many of whom were playing outside Uganda for the first time, noting that early nerves were expected but quickly overcome.
“Most of them, it’s their first time going outside Uganda. So, it’s a bit difficult from the beginning, but they put the pieces together and tried to put passes together and dominate play,” he explained.
Uganda gradually grew into the game and asserted control, with goals from Owen Mukisa, Nicholas Kawooya and Abdulshakur Babi sealing a dominant win and a perfect start to the tournament.
Kingston emphasized the importance of starting strong in a short competition, describing the opener as a crucial test of mentality and focus.
“First game is very important for everyone. So it’s good that we’ve had our first game. Now we put it behind us,” he said.
Attention now shifts quickly to a decisive Group B clash against Cameroon on Saturday, a match that could confirm Uganda’s qualification to the knockout stages and secure a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
“We’re looking forward to Cameroon on Saturday. We will take it a day at a time, but at the moment, the boys have done very well, so we need to praise them for their hard work,” Kingston added.
