FIFA U-17 World Cup playoff: Uganda edge Ghana in penalty shootout

Uganda U-17 edged Ghana U-17 8-7 on penalties after a tense 2-2 draw in the FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off on Saturday evening.

Ghana struck first through Eric Gyamfi in the 9th minute, but Uganda answered with Owen Mukisa’s equaliser in the 34th minute to keep the game alive.

The Ghana then turned the match around after the break when Latif Abdul Wunzalgu scored in the 51st minute to make it 2-1. Uganda pushed back with real urgency, and their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time when Arafat Ibanda converted a penalty in the 90+1 minute to level the contest at 2-2.

Extra time could not separate the two sides, and the final went to a shootout where Uganda held their nerve. John Brian Owino, Henry Muhoozi, Abdulshakur Babi, Brian Olwa, Arafat Ibanda, Mujab Mbalire, Musa Suuna, and Travor Mubiru all scored for Uganda, while Ghana missed one of their spot-kicks via Jacob Kpoeti to hand the victory to the East Africans.

It was a dramatic finish to a close encounter, with Uganda showing composure when it mattered most.