Little League World Series (Middle East-Africa Region)
The Middle East–Africa Region was one of the eight "international" (non-U.S.) regions that participated in the Little League World Series from 2008 to . The Arabian-American Little League in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia won each of the three MEA championships until 2011 when the Reverend John Foundation Little League from Kampala, Uganda won the tournament, however the team from Uganda was not able to participate after their visa applications to enter the United States were denied, and Dhahran was invited to participate in their place. In 2012, a team from Lugazi , Uganda, won the tournament. Prior to 2008, Middle Eastern and African teams competed in either the Europe/Middle East/Africa region (EMEA) or the Transatlantic region. The Transatlantic and EMEA regions were geographically identical. Leagues from the Transatlantic region generally consisted of children and other dependents of American expatriates, typically Armed Forces personnel, international organization members, and oil company workers (such as the team representing the Saudi Aramco Residential Camp in Dhahran). The leagues within the EMEA region consisted of players native to the league's own country. In practice, however, only European teams competed in the EMEA region, as  no teams from the Middle East or Africa ever competed for the regional championship. The region was disbanded following the 2012 LLWS due to a major reorganization triggered by Little League's announcement that Australia would receive an automatic berth beginning with the 2013 LLWS. As a result of this announcement: Regional championship. The list below lists each country's participant in the MEA Little League Region Tournament. That year's winner is indicated in green. LLWS results. "As of the 2012 Little League World Series." Notes. Lugazi, Uganda, won the regional championship in 2012 and became the first African  team to compete in the Little League World Series. Not all the players were able to make the trip, due to costs. Traditionally, the team practices barefoot, but Little League World Series supporters provided the team with baseball cleats. Justine Makisimu had the first African base hit. As popular as this team became, they were not one of the top contenders in the Little League World Series. Uganda lost to Panama 9–3, and Mexico 12–0, eliminating them in two games. However, they beat Oregon, 3–2, in a consolation game.