The past one month has been unsafisfying to women football euthasiats in Uganda, watching national teams (two) crumble in two different major International competitions.
Teen Cranes (Uganda women’s U-17) and Crested Cranes (Senior National team) were eliminated in the 2025 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers and 2026 WAFCON Qualifiers respectively.
Teen Cranes who commenced the year in style thrashed Baby Gladiators of Namibia 18-1 on aggregate to progress to the next round where they met neighbors, Kenya.
Over the weekend, Kenya, exempted in the first round, ended their dream to make a first-ever appearance at World Cup finals, 5-0 aggregate deficit in two legs.
The failure in Nairobi meant that the junior side were latest victims of elimination after Crested Cranes whose journey in 2026 WAFCON Qualifiers came to an end in the first round of the continental play-offs.
Having a healthy 2-0 advantage in the first meeting held in Kampala, the senior national team still failed to scramble past Ethiopia, who defeated the latter 5-4 in a dramatic penalty-shootout.
The similarity between the two teams is that they were managed by one person in South African coach, Sheryl Botes, falling short of expectations from the masses.
A lot of unanswered questions on what could have been the blockage to success of the two entities, Uganda as a nation with rich history in the region was hit with a reality check.
Teen Cranes journey
1st round
Namibia 0-10 Uganda
Uganda 8-1 Namibia
2nd round
Uganda 0-2 Kenya
Kenya 3-0 Uganda
Teen Cranes is eliminated
Crested Cranes journey
1st Round
Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia
Ethiopia (5)2-0(4) Uganda
Crested Cranes is eliminated
Leave feedback about this