Head coach of Uganda’s National Under 17 Men’s Football Team, Laryea Kingston, says he was just doing his job when he led the Eastern African nation to the 2026 FIFA Under 17 World Cup at the expense of his home nation, Ghana. (Scroll down to watch video)
Uganda beat Ghana in a penalty shootout after drawing 2-2 after regulation time in a playoff tie at the Under 17 AFCON for a spot in this year’s World Cup that is set to take place in Qatar in November.
Senegal won the Under 17 AFCON after beating Tanzania 4-2 in a penalty shootout to lift the title. Kingston served as Ghana U-17 head coach in 2024 and joined Uganda after resigning as Black Starlets head coach.
Addressing Uganda’s World Cup qualification ahead of his native country at an event in Ghana, Kingston stated that,
“I was just doing my job. I will not wish anybody to be in that position that I was on that day. It was me standing between my job and my country so it was a very hard moment for me” Kingston said.
🎥 🇬🇭 “I was just doing my job. It was very hard for me. I was standing between my job and my country.”
Uganda U-17 head coach Laryea Kingston reflected on helping Uganda U-17 secure FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification at the expense of Ghana’s Black Starlets.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/2DvWIvYbwN
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) June 5, 2026
