FIFA U-17 World Cup: James Bogere Fires Uganda to Historic Victory Over France

Uganda wrote one of the most remarkable chapters in their football history as they secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over France thanks to an 18th-minute strike from James Bogere at the Aspire Zone Pitch 3 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

 The result not only earned Uganda their first-ever World Cup win but also sealed a famous passage into the Round of 32.

Brian Ssenyondo’s boys went into the game knowing that only a win would keep their hopes alive after a draw against Chile in the previous fixture.

 Ssenyondo made just one change to his starting lineup, bringing in Arafat Nkoola for Innocent Asiimwe, a move that paid dividends as Uganda displayed balance and composure in both attack and defense.

The match began with high intensity, with Uganda pressing early and showing no signs of intimidation against a star-studded French side. 

Their persistence was rewarded when Bogere, who had been the hero during the qualifiers, found himself in space inside the box and unleashed a perfectly placed shot into the top-left corner to give Uganda a dream start.

 It was a goal worthy of the occasion — confident, precise, and executed with the calmness of a seasoned finisher.

France, stung by the early setback, responded with sustained pressure, forcing Uganda’s backline into several last-ditch clearances. 

Goalkeeper Rogers Ochan was alert throughout, denying French forward Enzo Leclerc with a superb reflex save midway through the first half. 

Uganda, however, remained disciplined and dangerous on the counterattack, with Nkoola almost doubling the lead just before halftime when his looping effort clipped the crossbar.

The second half turned into a test of endurance and defensive organization for the East Africans. 

France dominated possession but struggled to break through Uganda’s compact defensive block.

Captain Emmanuel Wasswa marshaled the backline expertly, cutting out passes and rallying his teammates during waves of French attacks. 

Despite France’s late pressure, it was Uganda who looked more likely to score again on the break. Substitute Steven Sserwadda came close to sealing the result in stoppage time, only to see his effort drift wide. 

Meanwhile, despite the defeat, France still advanced as group winners due to results elsewhere. Chile, who defeated Canada 2–1 in the group’s other match, were eliminated on goal difference, while Canada narrowly scraped through.