Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s U-20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, are on the brink of history as they prepare for a decisive two-legged clash against Ghana in the final round of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The first leg will be played on Saturday, May 3, at the Accra Sports Stadium, before the return leg on May 9 at the FUFA Stadium Kadiba. Kick-off in Accra is set for 3:30 PM local time (6:30 PM EAT).
Head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes has named a strong travelling squad, retaining the core that eliminated Zambia in the previous round. The only change sees midfielder Zainabu Birungi drafted in for Dorcus Kisakye.
Uganda heads into the tie with growing belief after an impressive qualifying campaign, bolstered by intense preparations at the FUFA Technical Centre Njeru. The team held its final training session on Thursday before departure, with the delegation led by FUFA Executive Committee member Agnes Mugena.
The squad also features a youthful edge, with four players promoted from the U-17 girls’ team that recently dominated Zimbabwe 6-1 on aggregate. These include Martha Babirye, Phionah Arach, Vicky Atyeronimungu, and Terry Moraa Oseko—signaling a strong pipeline of emerging talent.
Victory over Ghana across the two legs will secure Uganda a coveted place at the global tournament in Poland, where only four African nations will qualify. The Queen Cranes must overcome stiff continental competition, with traditional heavyweights like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast also chasing qualification.
A successful qualification would mark a major milestone for Ugandan football, making the Queen Cranes only the second national team from the country to reach a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Uganda’s recent breakthrough came through the U-17 men’s national team, which made history by qualifying for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup and advancing to the Round of 16 with notable victories over France and Senegal.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
