The young Cranes of Uganda (in Ghanaian slang) showed the Black Starlets of Ghana ‘pepper’ in Morocco.

After both countries missed their chances of booking an automatic World Cup slot at the 2026 AFCON U-17, they faced off in a nail-biting playoff contest.

The Black Starlets twice gave up a leading advantage to bend over to the Ugandans in a tensive penalty shootout.

Twin center-back Jacob Kofi Etse Kpoeti missed Ghana’s 8th kick of the shootout, serving Uganda’s qualification on a shiny silver platter for Mubiru.

Uganda’s qualification would come as a sense of poetic justice for their head coach, Laryea Kingston, a former Black Stars winger, who once was Ghana’s U-17 head coach.

The young Cubs of Uganda will now join 7 other African countries at the 2026 Qatar FIFA U-17 World Cup.