FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim has reaffirmed the federation’s long-term commitment to women’s football development following the Uganda U-17 Women’s National Team’s triumph at the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship 2026.
Speaking during a luncheon held in honour of the Teen Cranes, Hon. Magogo praised the players, coaches and stakeholders who contributed to the team’s successful campaign and emphasised that FUFA remains focused on developing players for the future rather than solely pursuing trophies.
‘Our interest is not just about winning trophies. At this level, our interest is development. First of all, identifying talent and then developing that talent to become better footballers and future national team players,’ he said.
The FUFA President commended the technical team led by Head Coach Sheryl Botes for their work in identifying and nurturing young talent from across the country.
‘I want to thank the coaches for identifying these girls from wherever they were and for developing them. We have seen improvement in every match they played at the championship and that is a sign that the programme is working,’ he noted.
Hon. Magogo highlighted the progress made by the team throughout the tournament, noting that the players not only secured the championship but also entertained fans with their style of play while maintaining high performance standards.
‘Football is not only about winning. Football is also about entertaining. These girls played very attractive football throughout the tournament and represented Uganda very well,’ he added.
The FUFA President encouraged the players not to be discouraged by their failure to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, describing setbacks as part of the development process.
‘The most successful people in the world are those who failed at their first attempt and continued trying. Missing out on the World Cup should only motivate you to work harder because many of you are still eligible to compete again,’ he said.
Hon. Magogo revealed that FUFA has taken a deliberate decision to provide opportunities for women’s national teams across all age categories, creating a clear pathway from youth football to the senior national team.
‘Our objective is for these players to progress through the ranks and eventually become stars of the Crested Cranes. This is work in progress and we are investing in these programmes because we believe in the future of women’s football in Uganda,’ he stated.
The FUFA President also praised the team’s fighting spirit during the tournament, particularly their determination to continue competing at a high level regardless of the scoreline.
‘I saw the fighting spirit in the team throughout the competition. Even when leading matches comfortably, the players continued pushing themselves. That mentality is important in building successful footballers,’ he said.
Hon. Magogo thanked FUFA partners and sponsors, including Finance Trust Bank and Nivana, for supporting women’s football and called upon more corporate organisations to invest in the game.
‘Women’s football requires the same level of investment as men’s football. The costs are the same and the opportunities are there for organisations that want to be part of the growth of the game,’ he noted.
The FUFA President also commended the FUFA Executive Committee for its continued support towards women’s football development and reiterated the federation’s determination to create more opportunities for young girls to play football.
‘We are not in women’s football for a short period. We are in women’s football for a purpose. We want to see Uganda compete at the highest level and that journey starts with giving young players opportunities at an early age,’ he said.
As part of the federation’s recognition of the team’s achievement, Hon. Magogo announced that all players would receive scholastic materials from FUFA.
‘As the Executive Committee, we understand that these players are still students. We are not supposed to pay them for what they have done. We have therefore decided to provide scholastic materials for all the players as a way of supporting their education alongside football,’ he revealed.
He concluded by congratulating the players, technical team, parents, schools, sponsors and all stakeholders who continue to support the growth of women’s football in Uganda.
‘Let us continue working together to ensure these players fulfil their dreams and become future stars of Ugandan football. The future is bright and we remain committed to supporting them every step of the way,’ he concluded.
