Canada’s Men Secure Historic First FIFA U-17 World Cup Win
Elijah Roche scored in the 88th minute, followed by a stoppage-time penalty converted by Marius Aiyenero, as Canada achieved a remarkable 2-1 victory over Uganda on Wednesday. This marked Canada's first-ever win in nine FIFA U-17 World Cup appearances.
Match Highlights
- James Bogere gave Uganda a 25th-minute lead in their debut FIFA tournament.
- Roche, having just made a crucial goal-line tackle, headed home a corner from Aghilas Sadek to level the score late in Doha, Qatar.
- After video review, John Asiimwe of Uganda was called for a penalty against Aiyenero.
- Aiyenero, a substitute who plays for Los Angeles FC 2, scored the winning penalty in the 98th minute.
Historical Context
Canada’s U-17 men now hold a record of 1 win, 20 losses, and 4 draws in the tournament. Since hosting in 1987, they have been outscored 71 to 13 across 25 matches, including an own goal by Argentina.
"Tonight is a proud moment for our program," said Canada head coach Mike Vitulano. "We wanted to set a new benchmark for the generations to come and did just that. The boys showed incredible character to come from behind, fight their way back and find a way to win late. It's a testament to their belief and togetherness. We'll enjoy this moment, but we're an ambitious group and our focus quickly shifts to preparing for the next match."
Author’s summary: Canada’s U-17 men made history with their first-ever World Cup win, demonstrating resilience and ambition as they overcame Uganda in a dramatic late comeback.