Uganda’s U17 National Team will step into their second Group B fixture at the Total Energies U17 CECAFA Region Qualifiers on Tuesday with confidence and continuity, as head coach Layrea Kingston opts to keep faith in the exact lineup that dismantled Burundi 4–0 in the tournament opener.
With the stakes rising at Dire Dawa Stadium in Ethiopia, Kingston has resisted the temptation to rotate, instead rewarding the sharpness, structure, and fluidity displayed on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Ashiraf Lukyamuzi once again leads from the back, supported by the familiar defensive combination of Shakur Ngobi and Eze Kombi on the flanks, plus the central pairing of Ibrahim Waita and Enock Mwesigwa, who kept Burundi silent throughout the first game.
In midfield, the impressive Henry Muhoozi anchors the team with poise, while Thomas Ogema and skipper Owen Mukisa provide the forward thrust and creativity that defined Uganda’s dominance in the opener.
Wide midfielders Nicholas Kawooya and Lorian Lwesibawa keep their roles after strong displays, stretching opponents and consistently feeding the attack.
Upfront, Ismail Fahad retains the responsibility of leading the line as he looks to register his first international goal at this level.
Uganda sits second in the group on goal difference behind Tanzania, who defeated Sudan 6–0. A win for Uganda today would set up a mouthwatering group decider against Tanzania on November 21—effectively a battle for top spot.
With the top two teams advancing to the semifinals in Addis Ababa, and three CECAFA slots available for next year’s U17 AFCON in Morocco, every point in Dire Dawa matters.
Kingston’s decision to maintain consistency signals trust and ambition.
