Laryea Kingston has written his name into East African football history after becoming the first Ghanaian coach to qualify Uganda’s U17 national team for a major international tournament.
The former Ghana U17 coach achieved the landmark by steering the Uganda Cubs to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations following an impressive performance in the CECAFA U17 Qualifiers.
Kingston sealed the historic qualification with a dominant 3–0 victory over Ethiopia in the semi-finals— a result that confirmed Uganda’s place at next year’s continental tournament in Morocco.
The achievement crowns a remarkable start to Kingston’s tenure. Earlier in the campaign, his team produced emphatic victories, including a 4–0 win over Burundi and a 9–0 demolition of Sudan, showcasing the tactical discipline and attacking flair he has instilled in the young side.
Uganda will now prepare for the continental stage as Kingston continues to build what many believe could be one of the most exciting youth teams in the country’s history.
By Prince Tuffuor
