FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
Today, 3pm- Kadiba
Return leg
Namibia v Uganda 3pm
Today’s return leg at the Kadiba stadium is more than just another qualifier—it is a defining moment for Uganda’s U20 women’s national football team, the Queen Cranes. With a 3-0 cushion from Friday’s first leg, the Ugandan side has one foot in the next round of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, but the task now is to finish the job and underline their growing reputation as a force in African women’s football.
The advantage is clear: both legs are being played in Uganda, with Namibia stripped of home advantage due to their lack of a CAF-approved stadium. Yet head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes has warned her players against slipping into complacency. “We are not here to defend a lead—we are here to win again,” Botes insisted ahead of the decisive tie. “This is about sending a message that Uganda can compete at the highest level.”
That message began to take shape on Friday evening when the Queen Cranes displayed maturity beyond their years. After a tense, goalless first half, substitute Peace Muduwa’s early second-half cross set the stage for Kabene to score the opener, a moment that shifted momentum firmly in Uganda’s favour. Barbara’s diving header and Kantono’s stoppage-time rebound sealed a performance that combined flair, resilience, and clinical finishing.
But beyond the goals lies a bigger story: the Queen Cranes are no longer simply hopeful participants in qualifiers. They are carving an identity built on a careful blend of young talents and players with U17 and U20 experience. Botes has been deliberate about this mix, arguing that Uganda cannot build its future without exposing its youngest players to pressure situations like today’s.
The stakes are high, not just for the team but for the nation. Uganda has flirted with World Cup qualification before—most memorably in 2013 with a record 22-0 aggregate win over South Sudan, and again in 2022 when they stunned South Africa. Yet, each campaign has ended in heartbreak, whether against Ghana or Senegal. This year feels different. A large home crowd, a squad brimming with confidence, and the weight of history pressing down on their shoulders make today’s tie a pivotal chapter.
Should the Queen Cranes hold their nerve, they will set up a mouth-watering clash with either Burundi or Zambia in the next round. Victory there would leave them just two steps away from a first-ever World Cup appearance—an achievement that would transform not only the team’s legacy but also the trajectory of women’s football in Uganda.
As the whistle blows this afternoon in Kadiba, the Queen Cranes will not just be defending a lead. They will be playing for history, for pride, and for the belief that Uganda’s time on the global stage is finally within reach.
