Uganda U-17 coach Laryea Kingston says his side’s impressive opening victory at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 has given the team confidence and belief that they can compete strongly at the tournament.
The former Ghana star oversaw a commanding 3-0 victory over DR Congo in Uganda’s opening Group B match, marking one of the standout performances of the first round of fixtures.
Kingston, one of Africa’s most recognisable former football stars, has quickly brought tactical discipline, confidence and identity to the Ugandan side since taking charge.
Uganda showed composure, organisation and attacking quality in their opening match, with captain Owen Mukisa once again playing a central role in midfield as the East Africans made a strong statement of intent.
The victory has boosted hopes that Uganda can reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time and potentially challenge for one of the ten African qualification places for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.
In an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, Kingston spoke about Uganda’s strong start, his coaching philosophy, the importance of mentality in youth football and his ambitions for the future of Ugandan football.
CAFOnline.com: Uganda have started the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON Morocco 2026 with an impressive 3-0 victory over DR Congo. How satisfied are you with the performance and mentality of the players?
Laryea Kingston: It was a very good performance. To say I am satisfied — yes, definitely. Every team dreams of winning their first game in a competition because the opening match is always very important.
Mentally, I think the occasion affected some of the players a little bit because most of them are very young and for many of them it was their first time travelling outside Uganda. We did not start the game very well, but as the match progressed, the boys settled down.
Everything we taught them, they stuck to the game plan and gradually started expressing themselves. From a technical perspective, myself and my staff are very pleased with the performance.
CAFOnline.com: Your team showed discipline, intensity and tactical organisation throughout the match. Was this exactly the type of identity you wanted Uganda to display at the tournament?
Laryea Kingston: Yes, of course. Every team should have an identity.
As a coach, I believe in dominating play. I believe if you take good care of the ball, you give yourself a better chance of controlling games and getting results.
We have to play according to the qualities of the players we have. From the first day I arrived in Uganda, I recognised the quality and potential of Ugandan players. Luckily for me, the style of the Ugandan player fits perfectly with the type of football I believe in.
That makes my work easier because there is still a lot of room for improvement.
CAFOnline.com: You enjoyed a distinguished career as one of Ghana’s most talented footballers. How has your experience at the highest level influenced your approach to coaching young players in Uganda?
Laryea Kingston: My experience as a player has helped me a lot. I was once in this same competition as a player. In 1997, I came to Botswana for the AFCON U-17 tournament, so I understand the dynamics of this level.
That experience helps me understand how players think and what they go through emotionally during major competitions.
Of course, being a player and being a coach are two completely different things. As a player, you simply focus on performing on the pitch. As a coach, you manage different personalities and players from different backgrounds.
It is not easy, but when you have players who are willing to learn and are coachable, the work becomes much easier.
CAFOnline.com: Uganda are seeking to reach the knockout stages of the U-17 AFCON for the first time. Does this victory increase belief within the squad that history can be made?
Laryea Kingston: Definitely. Victories like this always increase belief and confidence within the squad.
The players now understand that if they follow the plan, work hard and stay disciplined, they can get results.
We know the next game against Cameroon will be very difficult because they are a strong football nation with a great history at this level. But this opening victory gives us confidence going into that match.
We are focusing fully on Cameroon now and trying to prepare a game plan that can create problems for them. This was a very important result for the players and for all Ugandans.
CAFOnline.com: Owen Mukisa once again showed his quality in midfield, while the team also looked dangerous in transition. How important is collective balance to the way you want Uganda to play?
Laryea Kingston: Owen is one of the most talented young players in Uganda. Even before I arrived, he had already won several individual awards, including Man of the Match and Best Player honours.
The first time I watched him, I immediately recognised his talent. But talent alone is not enough — you must work hard too, and Owen has done that brilliantly.
He is a leader both on and off the pitch. He helps bring the players together and supports the technical team as well.
We are lucky to have him in the squad, but now we need to manage his development carefully and ensure he continues growing in the right way.
CAFOnline.com: You are one of the few foreign coaches at the tournament. How has the experience of working in Ugandan football shaped you personally and professionally?
Laryea Kingston: I enjoy stepping outside my comfort zone. Even during my playing career, I travelled to many countries and experienced different cultures.
Uganda has been a wonderful experience for me. I enjoy the culture, the people and even the food.
Of course, adapting to a new environment always comes with challenges, but I feel I have adapted very well. There is still more for me to learn and understand, but I feel very comfortable.
I must thank the federation, FUFA, especially President Magogo and Edgar Watson, because they made the environment very welcoming for me.
CAFOnline.com: Uganda looked mentally strong and mature despite the pressure of opening the tournament. What work have you done with the players on the psychological side of the game?
Laryea Kingston: The psychological side is extremely important in football and in life generally.
You can have all the talent in the world, but if you are not mentally ready, it becomes difficult to perform at your best.
We introduced something we call “character class”, where we select different topics and discuss them together as a group. It helps the players understand life, responsibility and how to deal with difficult moments.
Football is the same — not everything will go your way during 90 minutes. Sometimes you suffer, but you must learn how to overcome difficult situations.
The boys are learning very well and they are eager to improve.
CAFOnline.com: African youth football is becoming increasingly competitive. In your view, what does Uganda need to continue improving in order to compete consistently with the continent’s top nations?
Laryea Kingston: Consistency is the key.
We must continue investing in development pathways, proper planning and coaching education.
Young players need more competitive matches because the best way for a child to learn football is by playing regularly. The more games they play, the better and stronger they become.
I do not think Uganda is far behind the top nations. If we continue investing in youth football, Uganda can compete with anyone on the continent.
CAFOnline.com: Qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup is one of the major objectives at this tournament. How important would it be for Ugandan football to achieve that milestone?
Laryea Kingston: It would be massive for Ugandan football.
For the players, it would be an opportunity to test themselves on the world stage and gain invaluable experience.
For the country, it would show that the youth development structures are moving in the right direction.
We still need to improve our scouting systems and continue identifying the right talent, but I believe we are on the right path.
At the moment, though, we are taking things one game at a time.
CAFOnline.com: Finally, what message would you like to send to the Ugandan supporters after this strong start to the competition?
Laryea Kingston: I just want to thank them for the massive support they have given us.
We promise to continue working hard every single day to make them proud.
The supporters should continue believing in us, continue praying for us and continue standing behind the team.
Our responsibility now is to keep working hard on and off the pitch to bring joy and smiles to the people of Uganda.
Source: Cafonline.com
