Football, History and Inspiration: Edgars Youth Programme at the Hoima AFCON Qualifier
Hoima, Uganda — September 29, 2026
For the young footballers of Edgars Youth Programme (EYP), Tuesday, 29th September 2026 was more than just match day. It was a chance to be part of a historic moment in Ugandan football.
As the Uganda Cranes faced Libya in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium, EYP players had a front-row experience of history as part of the programme’s Hospitality Programme. The youngsters served as player escorts and ball boys, taking on roles that placed them right at the centre of one of the biggest football occasions in Hoima.
The match itself lived up to the occasion. In a tense encounter, Uganda secured a 1–0 victory over Libya, with defender Arnold Vula scoring the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time. The victory gave the Cranes their first win in the AFCON qualifying campaign and their first-ever victory at Hoima City Stadium.
But for the EYP children, the memories went far beyond the final score.
From walking onto the pitch alongside national team players to carrying out their responsibilities as ball boys and player escorts, the young footballers experienced the atmosphere of international football from a perspective many young players only dream about.
They also had the opportunity to interact with members of the Uganda Cranes, giving them a rare chance to meet and connect with players they look up to.
The occasion was particularly significant because Hoima City Stadium was hosting its first senior international football fixture, marking a new chapter for football in the Bunyoro region. It was also Uganda’s first senior men’s international home fixture outside Kampala, making the night historic for both the stadium and the region.
For EYP, however, the experience reflects something bigger than one match.
The Hospitality Programme is designed to give young footballers opportunities to experience the game beyond training and competition — allowing them to learn, interact, build confidence and understand what it means to be part of the wider football ecosystem.
And in Hoima, the children did exactly that.
They watched their national team compete, participated in the match-day experience, interacted with their football heroes and, most importantly, enjoyed every moment of it.
It was a day of football, learning, inspiration and unforgettable memories a day when EYP’s young players did not just watch history being made.
They became part of it.
Edgars Youth Programme — Play Professionally.
