Kampala, Uganda: The first important result of their 2026 campaign came away from home on April 12.
Zimbabwe hosted Uganda in Harare for the opening leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie. With the return match scheduled for Kampala, the hosts needed to make use of familiar conditions and avoid travelling with a deficit.
There was plenty of local interest in a rare home qualifier for Zimbabwe’s young side. The match was also listed among the international football markets on 1xBet Zimbabwe.
What followed was a difficult afternoon for the hosts.
Harare Put Uganda in Control
Uganda took the lead through Immaculate Acen in the 17th minute. It was not a goal against the run of play. Sheryl Botes’ side had settled earlier and looked more comfortable when moving the ball forward.
Lydia Namaseruka scored again before half-time.
A 2-0 away win gave the Teen Cranes control of the tie, but they still had to complete the work six days later at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.
Zimbabwe needed an early goal in Kampala. Instead, Brenda Nassaka scored for Uganda after ten minutes.
Acen was on target again before Giovanna Aketogwanga added a third shortly before the interval. Zimbabwe reduced the deficit in the second half, though there was no serious threat of a comeback by then.
Substitute Terry Moraa Oseko scored late on. Uganda won 4-1 and progressed with a 6-1 aggregate score.
It was a strong start to the qualifying campaign. The next tie was much tighter.
Kenya End Uganda’s World Cup Run
Shadia Nabirye gave Uganda an early lead against Kenya in the first leg in Kampala. The visitors equalised after the break, leaving the tie open before the return match in Nairobi. Neither side scored in Kenya.
The 0-0 draw meant the teams were level at 1-1 on aggregate, but Kenya advanced through the away-goals rule. Uganda had gone through two matches without a defeat and still found themselves out of the competition.
For a young team, that was a hard way to exit.
The players did not have long before reporting for another assignment. The CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship was approaching, and Uganda travelled to Tanzania as the defending champions.
Five Wins in Tanzania
Their opening fixture was one-sided. Uganda beat Djibouti 13-0.
The score drew attention, although the next two group matches gave a better indication of the team’s level. The Teen Cranes defeated Zanzibar 3-0 and South Sudan 4-0.
They finished the group stage with nine points. Twenty goals scored, none allowed.
Kenya then appeared again in the semi-final.
This was not simply another match for a place in the final. The same opponents had ended Uganda’s World Cup campaign only weeks earlier.
There would be no second narrow tie. Uganda won 3-0.
Hosts Tanzania stood between the Teen Cranes and another regional title. They had home support behind them in the final, but Uganda led by two goals before the break.
Justine Ayerango scored first. Brenda Nassaka added the second, while Flavia Yagala made it 3-0 after half-time.
Uganda saw out the remaining minutes without conceding.
Five matches in Tanzania brought five wins, 26 goals and five clean sheets. The Teen Cranes had also beaten the team responsible for their World Cup exit before defeating the hosts in the final.
The year did not produce the World Cup place they wanted. It did, however, leave Uganda with another CECAFA trophy and a group of young players who had already shown they could recover from a setback.
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