The Uganda U17 men’s national team (The Cubs) have written another beautiful chapter in the nation’s football story after earning their first-ever FIFA World Cup point, holding South American side Chile to a 1–1 draw at Aspire Zone in Doha.
It was an evening filled with courage, teamwork, and belief — and one that showed the true spirit of Ugandan football.
Before the game, many people expected Chile to win comfortably. They had experience, height, and a longer history in international tournaments. But when the referee blew the first whistle, everything changed.
The Cubs started with confidence and energy, moving the ball with maturity that amazed even the fans in the stadium. They passed neatly, pressed fearlessly, and created many goal-scoring chances. The Chile goalkeeper had to make several saves, and sometime Uganda was denied by the crossbar.
The Cubs played like warriors — calm in possession and dangerous in attack. But just when the first half was about to end, Chile found a goal. In the third minute of added time, a free kick was delivered from the left side and Bruno Torres rose highest to head it home.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the young Ugandans who had worked tirelessly. Seconds later, the whistle for halftime blew, and the Cubs went into the break trailing 1–0 despite being the better side.
The second half began with even more fire from Uganda. The boys came back pushing harder, pressing the Chile defenders and creating several half chances. They shot from distance, attacked from the wings, and kept the Chileans on the back foot.
Coach Brian Ssenyondo kept encouraging his players from the touchline, urging them to stay calm and keep believing.
With 90 minutes played and five additional minutes announced, Uganda made a substitution. Ssozi Derick, a young midfielder, came on to replace Okello Richard.
It was a change that would turn the story of the day.
In the 93rd minute, Uganda won a corner kick. Torach Elvis swung in a fine cross into the penalty area. Nkoola Arafat jumped to meet it but missed the ball slightly, and it fell to Ssozi Derick, who reacted quickly.
While falling, he acrobatically kicked the ball — it hit the crossbar, bounced down, and crossed the goal line before a Chile defender cleared it away. There was no time to celebrate. The Cubs players just picked a ball near the goal and ran to the center, hugging the debutant hero Ssozi Derick on the way, whose name will forever be remembered in Uganda’s football history.
At first, the referee received a message from the VS officials to review the goal. The stadium went silent as everyone waited.
Then came the big moment — the referee pointed to the center circle, confirming the goal!
Uganda had equalized, and the fans went wild in celebration.
A few moments later, the referee blew the final whistle — Uganda 1, Chile 1. The Cubs had done it again. After scoring their first-ever World Cup goal against Canada, they had now secured their first World Cup point.
In the stands, FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim stood proudly among the Ugandan supporters, celebrating the historic moment with a smile.
It was not just a draw — it was a moment of pride, proof that Uganda belongs on the world stage.
Speaking after the match, Uganda Cubs Head Coach Brian Ssenyondo praised his players for showing fighting spirit and strong character.
‘It shows resilience, it shows a team that has character — a team that can come back from a goal down and from a painful loss against Canada,’ he said.
‘It’s not the result we wanted because we wanted three points, but I believe we had a better team throughout 90 minutes.’
He added that the boys have improved greatly from their first game and are learning fast on the big stage.
‘Some teams have been here for over 12 years and have never scored a goal. We already have two,’ he continued. ‘The way we transitioned from defence to attack, the combination play, the breaking of lines — all were good. The boys deserve praise for this performance.’
The hero of the day, Ssozi Derick, could hardly hide his joy after the final whistle. It was his first appearance at the tournament, and he made it count in the most dramatic way possible.
‘I am very happy I have scored a goal for my country,’ said Ssozi. ‘It was my first time to play, and I thank God that I have helped my team to gain a point.’
With two goals and one point from two matches, Uganda has already made a powerful statement in their debut FIFA World Cup campaign.
They will play France next in the final group fixture on Tuesday 11th November 2025 at the same Aspire Zone but on pitch 3, kickoff at 3:30pm EAT.
