The road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has officially been mapped out. Following the CAF draw held today, Wednesday in Cairo, the Uganda Women’s National Team (Crested Cranes) has been drawn against African giants Zambia in a high-stakes second-round encounter.
With only two slots available for the entire continent, the Crested Cranes face a “sink or swim” path to glory.
Under the guidance of coach Sheryl Botes, Uganda will skip the first round and dive straight into the deep end against the Copper Queens in October 2026.
The fixture (M.35,36) is arguably one of the toughest in the second round. Zambia has become a powerhouse in African women’s football, having represented the continent at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
However, the Crested Cranes are no strangers to upsetting the odds. Ugandan fans will fondly remember the 5-0 demolition of Zambia in a 2022 international friendly—a result that proved that on their day, the Cranes can soar above any opponent.
The Qualification Format:-
The journey to LA 2028 is a grueling five-round knockout marathon. A total of 35 nations are competing, but the format is unforgiving:
Round 1 (June 1–9, 2026): Lower-ranked teams battle to join the fray.
Teams must navigate five successive knockout rounds to be one of the final two African representatives in Los Angeles.
Uganda isn’t the only CECAFA nation with a tough draw. Her neighbors are also in action:
Kenya will face the Seychelles, Tanzania takes on Botswana whike Rwanda is paired with Ethiopia.
