St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School–Kitende couldn’t have asked for a better stage to write their latest football story, winning a regional title in front of their own fans.
On Tuesday, Uganda’s U15 boys held their nerve at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, edging Ethiopia 3–1 on penalties to lift the CAF African Schools Football Championship (CECAFA Qualifiers 2025).
The match itself was tense and cagey, ending goalless after normal time. But the young hosts stepped up confidently in the shootout, sealing not just the regional crown, but also a precious ticket to the continental finals.
It was the perfect finish to a week in which the Ugandan boys displayed skill, belief and remarkable maturity beyond their age.
For Kitende, a school already known for powering Ugandan football talent, the victory felt especially sweet.
It comes just months after heartbreak against Buddo SS in the USSSA Schools final, also decided from the spot. This time, the script flipped in their favour.
Tanzania claimed third place after a 2–0 win over Burundi, taking the final continental slot. Ethiopia finished runners-up in both the boys and girls tournaments and walked away with USD 75,000, while bronze winners, Tanzania (boys) and Uganda (girls), each earned USD 50,000. As champions, Uganda (boys) and Tanzania (girls) received USD 100,000 apiece.
The girls’ final followed a similar pattern as Tanzania beat Ethiopia 5–4 on penalties after another goalless stalemate.
Uganda secured bronze with a 2–0 victory over Burundi. Earlier, Kawempe Muslim also claimed third place and $50,000.
There were standout individual performances too. Uganda’s Muhoozi Henry and Lydia Namaseruka were named best boys’ and girls’ players, while Burundi’s Ramadhan Ngendabanyikwa and Tanzania’s Lukia Seleman took the goalkeeper awards.
Top scorers were Uganda’s Nabiru Kajumba and Tanzania’s Hajra Mawanja.
By the end of the fourth edition of the CECAFA qualifiers, there was a renewed sense of what school football continues to mean for East Africa.
St Mary’s Kitende return to the stage CAF U15 Africa stage for the third time.
