Laryea Kingston's Uganda dash Ghana U17 World Cup hopes with penalty victory

Ghana's wait for a U17 World Cup appearance continues after this dramatic shootout defeat.

The Black Starlets started brightly when Eric Gyamfi scored early, capitalizing on poor marking to strike past Lukyamuzi at the far post.

Uganda adapted swiftly, shifting formation to match Ghana's approach. Their tactical change paid dividends as Mukise equalized before halftime with a powerful set piece.

After the break, Abdul Latif restored Ghana's advantage following a defensive error, connecting with Gyamfi's delivery after Agyei's clever dummy created space.

With time running out, Ghana seemed destined to secure qualification until late controversy struck.

Uganda's coach Kingston successfully challenged for a handball review against Asumang. Slow motion replays confirmed the infringement from Mukise's cross.

Arafat converted the subsequent spot kick, sending Annan the wrong way despite ten minutes of added time failing to produce a decisive goal.

Ghana attempted to strengthen their penalty preparations with late substitutions but ultimately fell short in the shootout.

The dramatic 8-7 conclusion sparked wild celebrations among the Ugandan contingent while leaving Ghanaian players devastated.

Kingston, formerly involved with Ghana's youth setup, now masterminds their disappointment at international level. Under his guidance, Uganda celebrates only their second ever U17 World Cup qualification.

This result extends Ghana's World Cup absence nearly a decade since their 1990s golden generation dominated African youth football.