Sunday, June 14 @ Azam Complex Stadium – Uganda vs Djibouti – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, June 16 @ KMC Stadium – Zanzibar vs Uganda – 1:00 pm
Thursday, June 18 @ KMC Stadium – Uganda vs South Sudan – 4:00 pm
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: CECAFA U-17 defending champions Uganda have arrived in Tanzania, determined to retain their Women’s Championship crown as the regional tournament gets underway this weekend.
The Teen Cranes head into the June 13-23 championship carrying the tag of defending champions and will be seeking another successful campaign against the best young talent from East and Central Africa.
Uganda has been drawn in Group B alongside South Sudan, Zanzibar and Djibouti, with the Teen Cranes opening their title defence against Djibouti on Sunday at Azam Complex Stadium.
They will then face Zanzibar on Tuesday before concluding their group-stage campaign against South Sudan on Thursday at KMC Stadium.
Uganda’s preparations received a timely boost after the team fought back to earn a thrilling 3-3 draw against Ethiopia in an international friendly played in Addis Ababa on Thursday.
The hosts raced into a two-goal lead through Liday Eaysu inside the opening eight minutes, putting Uganda under early pressure.
However, the Teen Cranes responded impressively through Joan Namakula before Martha Babirye curled home a superb free-kick to level the scores.
Eaysu restored Ethiopia’s advantage before halftime, but Uganda showed resilience and determination throughout the second half.
Coach Sheryl Botes made several tactical changes as her side pushed for an equaliser, and substitute Yagala Flavia eventually struck deep into stoppage time to secure a deserved draw.
The result provided Uganda with valuable momentum ahead of the championship.
Botes Names Final Squad
Head coach Sheryl Botes recently confirmed her final squad of 20 players after trimming 11 players from a provisional group of 31 who had been undergoing intensive residential training at FUFA Hotel in Kisaasi.
The squad retains the core of players who featured prominently during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Kenya, where Uganda narrowly missed qualification on the away-goals rule after a goalless draw in Nairobi.
With many players carrying experience from that campaign, Uganda will be hoping to use the tournament as another platform to showcase its growing strength in women’s youth football.
As defending champions, expectations will be high on the Teen Cranes to once again challenge for the regional title.
The team will look to key performers including captain Vicky Atyeronimungu, Joan Namakula, Martha Babirye, Shadia Nabirye and Immaculate Acen to inspire another successful run.
Having demonstrated character and fighting spirit against Ethiopia, Uganda enters the tournament confident of mounting a strong title defence.
A positive start against Djibouti could set the tone for another memorable CECAFA campaign.
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