Uganda’s U-17 women’s side delivered a commanding statement on home soil, overwhelming Zimbabwe to march into the next round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Backed by an energetic crowd at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, the Teen Cranes took control early and never looked back, sealing a dominant 4-1 victory on the day to wrap up a convincing 6-1 aggregate triumph.
The hosts wasted no time stamping their authority, with Brendah Nassaka unleashing a long-range effort inside the opening minutes to ignite Uganda’s charge. That early breakthrough set the tone for a performance built on intensity and attacking intent.
Despite a brief setback when a penalty opportunity went begging, Uganda quickly regained their rhythm. Immaculate Acen made amends with a composed finish, while Giovanna Aketogwanga added further gloss to a first half that firmly tilted in Uganda’s favour.
Zimbabwe found a lifeline just before the break, capitalising on a defensive lapse to reduce the deficit, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived.
Uganda returned from the interval just as sharp, controlling the tempo and limiting their opponents to minimal opportunities. Late in the game, substitute Terry Mora Oseko capped off the performance with a close-range finish after a well-worked move, underlining the team’s depth and cohesion.
The emphatic display not only secured progression but also sent a clear warning ahead of the next hurdle. Uganda will now face regional rivals Kenya, who advanced comfortably past Namibia, in a decisive round scheduled for late May.
