Kampala, Uganda: FUFA President Moses Magogo and State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang both applauded the Uganda U-17 Women’s National Team, the Teen Cranes, following their successful defence of the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship title, pledging continued investment in girls’ football development across the country.
The leaders made the remarks during a luncheon organised in honour of the Teen Cranes after their dominant campaign that culminated in a 3-0 victory over hosts Tanzania in the tournament final.
The triumph handed Uganda a second consecutive CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship title and delivered head coach Sheryl Botes her first trophy since taking charge of the national team.
Speaking at the team’s luncheon held at Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala on Thursday, FUFA President Moses Magogo said the federation’s long-term objective extends beyond winning trophies and focuses on identifying and nurturing future national team players.
“Our interest is not just about winning trophies. At this level, our interest is development. First of all, identifying talent and then developing that talent to become better footballers and future national team players,” Magogo said.
The Budiope East legislator credited the technical team for discovering talented players from different parts of Uganda and helping them grow into a competitive team.
“I want to thank the coaches for identifying these girls from wherever they were and for developing them. We have seen improvement in every match they played at the championship and that is a sign that the programme is working,” he added.
Magogo also praised the quality of football displayed by the Teen Cranes throughout the tournament, noting that success should not only be measured by results.
“Football is not only about winning. Football is also about entertaining. These girls played very attractive football throughout the tournament and represented Uganda very well,” he said.
World Cup Setback Should Inspire Players
Despite their regional success, Uganda narrowly missed qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and Magogo encouraged the players not to view the setback as a failure but rather as motivation to work harder.
“The most successful people in the world are those who failed at their first attempt and continued trying. Missing out on the World Cup should only motivate you to work harder because many of you are still eligible to compete again,” he said.
He revealed that FUFA has intentionally invested in women’s football structures across different age categories to create a clear pathway from youth football to the senior national team.
According to Magogo, the federation’s vision is to ensure that players graduating from youth teams can seamlessly transition into the Uganda Women’s National Team, the Crested Cranes.
Ogwang Commends Team’s Achievement
Sports Minister Peter Ogwang congratulated the Teen Cranes for bringing pride to Uganda and said their achievement reflects the positive progress being made in football development.
“On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I congratulate you for winning this very important competition. Football development in this country is on the right trajectory and seeing these young players achieve success at this stage of their careers is a clear indication that the future is bright,” Ogwang said.
The minister commended FUFA for creating opportunities for young footballers to compete regularly at regional and continental level.
“For many years, participating in regional and international competitions was a challenge. Today, qualifying and competing at that level has become a standard expectation,” he said.
Ogwang noted that Uganda’s increasing presence in youth competitions demonstrates the effectiveness of investments being made in grassroots football.
The minister challenged football authorities to strengthen the transition between school football and club football, particularly for girls. He warned that many talented young players risk stagnating after excelling in school competitions due to limited opportunities for continued development.
“One of the key challenges is ensuring these players continue developing after excelling at school level. We need sustainable competitions and structures that allow them to remain competitive while pursuing their education and football careers,” Ogwang said.
He pledged government support for initiatives aimed at strengthening youth football structures and increasing opportunities for female athletes.
Museveni Recognition Proposed
Ogwang further revealed plans to recommend that President Museveni formally host the Teen Cranes in recognition of their achievement.
“When a national team wins an international competition, it is important that the achievement is formally recognised. These players deserve appreciation and motivation for bringing honour to the country,” he said.
The minister also urged parents and schools to support young athletes, noting that football has increasingly become a viable career path capable of transforming lives.
The Teen Cranes completed the championship unbeaten, scoring freely throughout the tournament and conceding very few goals on their way to retaining the regional crown.
Their success adds to Uganda’s growing reputation as one of East Africa’s emerging forces in women’s football and provides fresh optimism for the future of the women’s game in the country.
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