For the second time in a row, the East Africa giants will not feature at the women’s premier competition to be staged by North African powerhouse, Morocco.
Uganda’s journey in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was cut short on Wednesday, bowing out in the first round of the continental play-offs.
The women’s national football team failed to contain Ethiopia away in Addis Ababa, loosing 5-4 in penalty shoot-outs after a late comeback by the Lucy to equal the aggregate score (2-2).
The result has brought head Coach Sheryl Botes under scrutiny, with a cross-section of natives in the country thinking it’s time to go separate ways with the former Banyana Banyana International.
Revellers with in the football circles believe Botes has been availed with enough resources from the Football Association (FA) in Uganda compared to past coaches but the team continues to stumble.
Since her appointment in 2023, Crested Cranes played six International friendlies against Morocco (December 2023), DR Congo (October 2024), and Algeria (November 2024) before the double confrontation against Ethiopia.
Another point fronted is about lack of a clear playing style from the girls while on turf and positional shift of players which many think doesn’t bring out the best of their potential.
For example in the two legs over Ethiopia, Zaina Nandede known to be a winger at Kampala Queens was deployed in the right back position together with Masar new signing Phiona Nabulime in the backline.
Dissatisfaction and frustration all over, we wait to see what happens next following elimination in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers.
Crested Cranes under Sheryl Botes
December 2023 (Friendlies)
Morocco 1-1 Uganda
Morocco 3-0 Uganda
October 2024 (Friendlies)
DR Congo 2-1 Uganda
DR Congo 1-3 Uganda
November 2024 (Friendlies)
Algeria 2-1 Uganda
Algeria 1-0 Uganda
February 2025 (WAFCON Qualifiers)
Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia
Ethiopia 2-0 Uganda
Uganda eliminated via penalty-shootouts (5-4) after a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.
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