Uganda U-17 Women’s National Team head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes has praised her players following a commanding performance that secured progression to the second round of the African Qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026.
Uganda advanced with a 6-1 aggregate victory over Zimbabwe after sealing a 4-1 win in the return leg played at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba on Saturday. The result confirmed a strong overall display across both legs of the tie.
Speaking after the match, Botes expressed pride in the team’s execution of instructions and their strong start which set the tone for the result.
‘We are so proud of the girls’ performance. They really played according to instructions. We started well and got three goals early, dominated in the first and second zones, and managed to get the result we wanted,’ she said.
The coach however stressed that the team is still in a development phase and continues to learn with every match. She highlighted the players’ willingness to improve as a key strength.
‘This group of players is young, energetic, and open to learning. They are still at a learning stage, and that is important for their growth,’ Botes noted.
She also pointed out areas that require improvement, particularly in the second half attacking phases and efficiency from set pieces.
‘There are a few areas we identified, especially in the second half offensively. We can do better, especially in situations like free-kicks,’ she added.
Botes extended appreciation to the clubs and schools that continue to nurture the players, as well as fans who turned up in large numbers to support the team.
‘I thank the clubs where the players come from, they are doing a good job. I also thank the fans for coming in huge numbers to support the team,’ she remarked.
She confirmed that attention now shifts to the next round where Uganda will face Kenya, with preparations already underway alongside the Queen Cranes camp.
‘We now focus on the next opponent, Kenya. Some of the players are part of the Queen Cranes camp as we continue preparations,’ she said.
Uganda will face Kenya in the second round of the qualifiers scheduled for May 2026 as the Teen Cranes continue their pursuit of a place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in Morocco.
