James Bogere Eyes Senior Glory as He Joins Uganda AFCON 2025 Squad

Rising star James Bogere is poised to make his mark on the senior international stage after being named in Uganda's final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.

At just 17, James Bogere has already established himself as one of the most prolific young forwards in the country.

His impressive record for the Uganda U17 team, the "Cubs," includes a remarkable 14 goals in 15 appearances.

His scoring prowess was on display across several major youth tournaments, including the 2024 CECAFA U17 Qualifiers, the 2025 U17 AFCON, and the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

James Bogere's journey to the senior squad has been paved with goals. He finished as the top scorer at the U17 CECAFA Qualifiers and was instrumental in Uganda's historic qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup.

During the U17 AFCON, he scored a memorable brace in a 2-1 comeback victory against The Gambia, a win that secured their World Cup spot.

At the U17 World Cup, James Bogere etched his name into Ugandan football history by scoring the nation's first-ever goal at the tournament against Canada. He followed this with a stunning winner in a 1-0 victory over France, a result that propelled the Cubs into the knockout stages.

Despite his individual accolades, Bogere is driven by a team-first mentality. For him, personal achievements are secondary to collective success.

This was evident after Uganda's 3-1 loss to Canada at the U17 World Cup, where an emotional Bogere expressed his disappointment despite scoring.

"It would have been better if we won the game," he told FUFA. "Yes, I scored, but for me personally, it matters a lot when the team wins. I scored, but what matters most is winning."

Hailing from Jinja, Bogere was recently signed by Danish club AGF from the El Cambio Academy, where he honed his skills. His talent first caught the eye of Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Joseph Put during the U17 CECAFA Qualifiers.

An injury previously delayed his senior debut, but he now returns to the national setup with valuable experience from the youth World Cup.

Coach Put has shown significant faith in the young striker, even starting him in a pre-AFCON friendly against AS FAR Rabat.

"Bogere is a great talent and has got potential," Paul Put commented. "I think he deserves a spot on the squad."

James Bogere will join a forward line that includes experienced players like Steven Mukwala, Uchechukwu Ikpeazu, and Rogers Mato.

As he prepares to test himself against Africa's elite, all eyes will be on the young goal poacher to see if he can replicate his youth-level success on the continent's biggest stage.