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David GOMBE
Uganda Cubs captain Owen Mukisa has revealed how the U-17 National team first assistant coach Steven Bengo helped him improve on his set-piece delivery during training sessions.
Mukisa scored from a direct corner kick as the Uganda Cubs beat DR Congo at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in Morocco this month.
“I used to have training sessions with coach Steven Bengo and we used to practice with him set-piece deliveries during training sessions. So scoring from a direct corner kick, it was not by mistake it done on training ground. Said Mukisa
Bengo during his playing career was a technically gifted footballer and great with set-piece deliveries. Him and Sadam Juma were Laryea Kingston’s assistants as the Cubs returned to the U-17 World Cup after overcoming Ghana in the playoff qualifier.
The Cubs’ rise in African youth football has been steady and impressive. Uganda has now featured in three U-17 AFCON tournaments in 2019, 2025 and 2026 highlighting the progress made in youth football development.
Their first appearance came in Tanzania in 2019, where they exited at the group stage but gained valuable experience. The major breakthrough arrived in 2025 when Uganda reached the knockout stage for the first time, securing the country’s maiden qualification for a FIFA World Cup at any football level.
At the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, the Cubs exceeded expectations by progressing from the group stage to the Round of 16, announcing themselves on the global stage.
In Qatar 2026, Uganda is among the six countries that have qualified to the Under-17 World Cup back-to-back. It is only Egypt, Mali, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal and Uganda that have made it back-to-back.