Magogo attributes Crested Cranes early exit in WAFCON to lack of Experience

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The President of the football body in Uganda, FUFA, has blamed inexperience of both the players and coaching staff of the Uganda Crested Cranes for the poor show at the ongoing TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2022 in Morocco.

Moses Hassim Magogo told Uganda Radio Network (URN) in Casablanca, Morocco that it was evident Uganda’s lack of experience was the major problem in the three matches played.

While eight teams have qualified for the quarter final stage, Uganda Crested Cranes is among the teams that have taken early flights back home. However, the team will bag US$100,000 (Shs370 million) for finishing fourth in the group.

Coach George William Lutalo’s side lost the opening match 2-0 to Senegal, before falling 3-1 to hosts Morocco. The team managed to collect a 2-2 draw against a 10-man Burkina Faso team.

Magogo said before he left Casablanca that although lack of experience was the major undoing of the Crested Cranes, it was good they had the opportunity to play at the big stage. “It is only by playing at such levels that you get better,” said Magogo.

Magogo made it clear that since many of the girls on the team are young, they can still qualify and perform better next time.

The FUFA President made it clear that they will continue to give the women’s teams alot of opportunities so that they can get the exposure and improve.

Although the two teams from the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA), Uganda and Burundi are knocked out of the WAFCON 2022, the tournament enters the quarter final stage on Wednesday.

Zambia will take on Senegal, while Morocco face Botswana. On Thursday, Cameroon will face nine time champions Nigeria, while South Africa take on Tunisia.

Winners of the quarter-final matches will secure qualification to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The two losers at the quarter-final stage will have another chance to secure qualification as they will be engaged in inter-continental playoffs.