Uganda U-20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, will conclude the group business with a game against tournament hosts, Ghana.

The Queen Cranes have so-far picked four points from the two games played in the ongoing 2023 All African Games. Starting with a one-all draw against neighbours Tanzania they recently secured a 2-0 victory against Ethiopia.

In the press conference shortly after the Ethiopia game, Botes revealed that they need to go back and come up with a strategy that will help them go past a physical team like Ghana.

“Our next match is against Ghana, there is no way we shall use the same strategy [as in the game against Ethiopia] against Ghana so we need to go back and prepare,” she stated.

“Ghana are such a strong team they have physical players and we need to find a way of containing her. They always do all it takes to win the second balls and so we shall try and cut the supply,” she added.

According to Botes, her troops have got to improve on their ball retention if they are to take full charge of the game and dictate which tempo should be used at a given stage of the match.

“We shall definitely change a few thing to match Ghana because their strength is on the wings and we know it. So after stopping them we ought to find ways of penetrating them so that we claim a positive result,” she concluded.

Next on the fixture, Uganda will take on Ghana on Friday March 15 in the final group game.

• African Games 2023 | Result
• Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia 

Queens Cranes finally got off the mark with their maiden win at the African Games 2023 after going past Ethiopia at Cape Coast Stadium on Tuesday.

The Queen Cranes secured a 2-0 victory thanks to Catherine Nagadya and Docus Lwalisa’s goals on the day.

In the first game of the campaign, Uganda thought they had registered a victory not until Tanzania equalised late and it ended in a one-all draw.

Coming into the second test, Queen Cranes head coach Sheryl Botes made only one change from the side that played Tanzania introducing Juliet Nalukenge for Krusum Namutebi.

Queen Cranes captain Nagadya placed Uganda in the driving seat after guiding Nalukenge’s delivery into the back of the net.

Lwalisa doubled Uganda’s lead in the 29th minute from a veracious free kick that went past Ethiopia’s custodian Genet Ermiyas who had slightly gone off the goal line.

Moments later, Lwalisa nearly got a herself a double but her long range effort bounced off the frame before before the ball was cleared away.

In the 43rd minute, Shakira Nankwanga was stretchered off the field and replaced by Namutebi in a forced change.

Before the first half came to an end, goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu pulled off a stunning save as she denied Mesay Temsegen from close range.

The second half was mainly dominated by Ethiopia who were looking for a come back but Uganda’s backline was alert to the threat.

The victory takes Uganda’s tally to four points in two games and will take on Ghana as the final group game.

Queen Cranes head coach Sheryl Botes has named 48 players ahead of the upcoming All-Africa Games.

The tournament is set to be held next month in Accra, Ghana.

The team is expected to enter cam on Monday, February 19 at Cranes Paradise Hotel, Kisasi.

The tournament will accommodate players whose age was applied during the qualifiers of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022.

Uganda is pitted in the same group as Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Ghana.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Daphine Nyayenga (Boldklubben AF 1893, Denmark), Sharon Kaidu (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, Uganda), Esther Akujo (She Maroons FC, Uganda), Olga Lukia Butiru (Asubo Ladies FC, Uganda), Halimah Kasuubo (Wakiso Hill WFC, Uganda), Cecilia Kamuli (FC Tooro Queens, Uganda), Nuru Babirye Nakyanzi (Royal Queens FC, Uganda)

Defenders

Samalie Nakacwa (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Harima Kanyago (UCU Lady Cardinals FC, Uganda), Catherine Wujja (Rines SS WFC, Uganda), Sharifah Nakimera (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Asia Nakibuuka (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Winnie Nakanwagi (Makerere University WFC, Uganda), Claire Hilda Kebirungi (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Sumaya Komuntale (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Dorcus Lwalisa (Olila High School WFC, Uganda), Ritah Mushimire (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Patricia Akiror (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Harriet Angorah (St. Noa WFC, Uganda), Winfred Kwatulira (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Shakirah Nankwanga (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Aisha Nantongo (Aalborg BK, Denmark), Patricia Nanyanzi Nakato (Rines SS WFC, Uganda), Patience Nabulobi (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda)

Midfielders

Krusum Namutebi (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Shamirah Nalugya (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Kevin Nakacwa (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, Uganda), Phiona Nabulime (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Patricia Nayiga (Wakiso Hill WFC, Uganda),Zaitun Namaganda (Wakiso Hill WFC, Uganda), Sarah Babirye (Asubo Ladies FC, Uganda), Hadijah Babirye (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Eva Nagayi (Rines SS WFC, Uganda), Shamusa Najjuma (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, Uganda)

Forwards

Latifah Nakasi (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, Uganda), Margret Kunihira (Ceasiaa Queens FC, Tanzania), Sumaya Nalumu (St. Noa WFC, Uganda), Zainah Nandede (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Sharon Kanyiginya (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, Uganda), Juliet Nalukenge (Apollon Ladies FC, Cyprus), Catherine Nagadya ( Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Hadijah Nandago (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Uganda), Sophia Nakiyingi (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Lillian Kasuubo (Kampala Queens FC, Uganda), Charity Nabiira (Jinja SS WFC, Uganda), Immaculate Kizza (She Maroons FC, Uganda), Kamiyati Naigaga (Asubo Ladies FC, Uganda), Fauzia Najjemba (ZFK Dynamo Moscow, Russia)

Uganda U17 Women National Team Head Coach Sheryl Botes expects a good game as Uganda takes on Cameroon.

The two nations will lock horns in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers duel set to be played on Saturday, February 3 at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

While speaking to FUFA media, Botes was confident revealing that the team is in great shape and ready to take on Cameroon.

“I think we shall be good to go on Saturday. The players have responded positively to training and I think we are good to go,” Boates revealed.

“I believe we have a good team to get a good result against Cameroon. We still have a few days to prepare. We have worked on the process of play to make sure the girls understand how exactly they have to play,” she added.

It will be the second time Uganda takes part in FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. In the previous edition, they were eliminated by Ethiopia in the first round.

• U20 World Cup Qualifiers | Results
• Saturday, November 18, 2023
• Uganda 1-1 Senegal | Agg: 1-2

The Uganda U20 Women’s National Team (Queen Cranes) dream of playing in the Fifa World Cup came to an end after a 1-1 draw in the return leg.

The game that was played at FUFA Technical Centre – Njeru ended in a sorrowful 1-1 stalemate on Saturday evening.

Ayub Khalifa’s charges came into this duel after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Senegal in Dakar but Uganda failed to overturn the result at home.

Uganda earned a perfect start to the game as Captain Hadijah Nandago placed the hosts in the lead inside five minutes.

However, eleven minutes later, Chris Aissatou Ba levelled matters as Uganda’s backline gave away possession cheaply. The forward also scored the solitary goal in Dakar.

The second half was dull compared to the first 45 minutes. As the Queen Cranes desperately looked for a lead once again, Senegal preferred to slow down the game and also kept their goal area safe.

The one-all draw meant Uganda’s journey had come to an end.

This was the third heartbreak for Uganda National teams in a period of three days starting with the Uganda Rhinos who fell to Zanzibar on Thursday before Uganda Cranes conceded late against Guinea.

• U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers | Results
• Saturday, November 11, 2023
• Senegal 1-0 Uganda

Queen Cranes fell to Senegal in a U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in a first-leg game hosted in Dakar on Saturday evening.

Aissatou Chris Ba scored the only goal for the hosts to register a slim victory in the opening leg of the clash.

In a game that Uganda created few chances on the day, they worked hard to keep the lead slim on able to overturn in the second leg.

The two sides will play the second leg on Saturday, November 18 at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru in a decider of who gets to the next stage.

The aggregate winner between Uganda and Senegal will play against the victor between Ghana and Estwani in the last hurdle of the campaign.

To reach this level, Uganda whitewashed Mozambique in an 8-0 victory on aggregate.

How Uganda lined up:

Uganda starting XI: Sharon Kaidu (GK), Hadijah Nandago, Sharifah Nakimera, Harima Kanyago, Desire Katisi, Patricia Nanyanzi, Krusum Namutebi, Agnes Nabukenya, Kevin Nakacwa, Catherine Nagadya, Margret Kunihira

Substitutes: Lilian Nakirya, Hasifah Namboozo, Immaculate Odolu, Shamusa Najjuma, Kamiyati Naigaga, Rebecca Nandago, Hairat Babirye

The Uganda U20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Ayub Khalifah Kiyingi has confirmed a squad of 20 players that will travel to Senegal, Dakar.

The Queen Cranes will lock horns with Senegal ahead of the first leg of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers clash.

The two sides face off in Dakar on Saturday, November 11, 2023, before they renew their rivalry a week later at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.

The departed Ugandan delegation was headed by Agnes Mugena and flew out of the country via Entebbe International Airport on Thursday morning at 2:45am aboard Ethiopian Airways.

The team will have a stopover in Addis Ababa before connecting to Senegal where the game will be played.

The Queen Cranes eliminated Mozambique 8-0 on aggregate to reach this level. 

There will be one more round after the second round to determine the four teams that will represent Africa at next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

Travelling Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sharon Kaidu, Lillian Nakilya, Nuruh Babirye Nankyazi.

Defenders: Patricia Nakato Nanyanzi, Harima Kanyago, Sharifah Nakimera, Rebecca Nandhego, Patricia Hasifah Namboozo, Desire Katisi Natooro

Midfielders: Kevin Nakacwa, Hadijah Nandago, Hairat Babirye, Krusum Namutebi, Agnes Nabukenya, Dorcus Kisakye, Immaculate Odalu

Forwards: Margret Kunihira, Catherine Nagadya Shamusa Najjuma, Kamiyati Naigaga

Queens Cranes midfielder Agnes Nabukenya hopes to score more against Mozambique in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers return leg.

Uganda blew away Mozambique in a 6-0 massive victory to stage a perfect run on the way to Colombia.

Nabukenya scored a brace in the first leg and hopes to increase her harvest on Saturday, October 14 at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.

“I want to add to my tally, I hope to score more goals on Friday,” she said.

“I am so happy that in the first leg, I scored two against Mozambique and we happened to win the game with a huge margin,” she added.

“However, we made many mistakes in that game, but am sure the coaches will help us rectify the shortcomings going forward.”

“We want to win the game on Friday in a better manner so that we get on to the next level comfortably,” she concluded.

Uganda is halfway into the next round, and the winner between the two sides will be playing the winner between Senegal and Benin.

Queen Cranes head coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi credited his troops for sticking to the game plan as they whitewashed Mozambique.

Uganda beat Mozambique 6-0 in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers on Saturday at ABB Matola Stadium.

“I thank Allah for the victory. The girls did such a tremendous job winning with such a huge margin,” Khalifa told the press.

“It has been a very good and convincing win of 6-0, I think we won it comfortably. The best thing about the game was that the girls followed the game plan to dot,“ he added.

“They respected everything we talked about and we were awarded with a huge victory. I hope they can maintain the momentum so that we achieve the dream.”

Nandago (brace), Agnes Nabukenya (brace), Margeret Kunihira and Eva Naggayi were on the score sheet as Uganda sealed a huge victory away from home.

The two sides will meet on Saturday, October 14 at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru in the return leg.

• FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers | Result
• Mozambique 0-6 Uganda

The U-20 Women’s National Team, Queen Cranes, thrashed Mozambique 6-0 in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers on Saturday at Campo da ABB Motala Stadium.

The Queen Cranes staged a thrilling show to excel in the first assignment as they created a wide edge as they await the return leg.

Agnes Nabukenya converted from the spot to put Uganda ahead in the 18th minute before she doubled the lead later on three minutes past the hour mark.

Six minutes later, Hadijah Nandago’s continuous attacks yielded something positive as she guided the ball into the back of the net for the third.

With three minutes to play in the first half, Margaret Kunihira extended the lead to four as she compounded Mozambique’s misery.

At half-time, it was a 4-0 lead for Ayub Khalifa’s charges giving the home side a lot of homework going into the second stanza.

But two minutes into the second half, Nandago finished off a personal brace as Mozambique’s backline remained helpless and lost in confusion.

Eva Naggayi got her name on the scoresheet in the goal galore hitting the last nail in Mozambique’s coffin.

The two sides will face off in the return leg that is slated for Saturday, 14th October at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.