Uganda’s U-15 boys are on the brink of a historic final as they prepare to face Benin in the semi-finals of the CAF African Schools Football Championship 2026, scheduled for Thursday, April 9 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Kick-off is set for 2:30 PM, with the other semi-final pitting Morocco against Senegal at 4:00 PM.
After a well-earned rest day on Wednesday, the Ugandan contingent quickly shifted focus back to business, maximising recovery while sharpening their edge with final training drills at Gateway High School.
The mood in camp remains composed yet determined ahead of what promises to be a stern test.
Team captain Livingstone Kulata is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task but exudes confidence in his side’s readiness:
“We have had a good last training session as we get ready to play Benin tomorrow (Thursday).
They (Benin) worked hard to get out of the game and this is the reason I expect a challenging match. But, I am hopeful, we shall battle and eliminate them,” Kulata remarked.
His sentiments are echoed by head coach Hassan Zzungu, who has overseen a focused and tactically disciplined build-up:
“The last training was good and the response of the players is good. The attitude is good and we shall go to fight for a win.
We looked at the Benin team and have planned accordingly. The attitude of the players is positive and we have prepared well,” Zzungu stated after the final session held under sunny conditions.
Uganda’s journey to the last four has been nothing short of impressive. They topped Group A with seven points from a possible nine, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once—a testament to both their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
Their campaign began with a 1-1 draw against hosts Zimbabwe before an emphatic 6-0 demolition of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Owen Mukisa starred with a hat-trick.
Musa Kironde, Ivan Kakinda, and Emmanuel Opio were also on target in that dominant display.
Uganda then sealed top spot with a commanding 3-0 victory over Morocco, courtesy of a brace from Lucky Wanyama and a fourth goal of the tournament for Mukisa.
Elsewhere, the girls’ competition has also reached the semi-final stage, with Zambia, Burkina Faso, Morocco, and defending champions Ghana battling for honours.
As Uganda steps onto the pitch on Thursday afternoon, belief, preparation, and momentum converge—fueling a team intent on turning promise into a place in the final.
