The Uganda U-20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, will take on Ghana on Saturday, 9 May 2026 in the decisive return leg of the final round of the African Qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.
Kick-off is at 4:00pm with the Queen Cranes aiming to become the first Uganda women’s national team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.
Uganda heads into the encounter seeking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat suffered in Accra last Sunday, with the away goal keeping the tie firmly within reach ahead of the home fixture.
The team held its final training session on Friday morning at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba. FUFA Deputy CEO Ampaire Sheba Rhona attended the session and rallied the players ahead of the decisive match.
Head Coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes praised the players for their mentality and determination going into the encounter.
‘We are ready. The girls are positive. We reviewed the first leg and corrected the mistakes we made. We are going to fight to qualify for the World Cup,’ Botes said.
The coach also pointed out Ghana’s strengths and how the team intends to approach the game tactically.
‘They are strong in midfield and have good speed upfront, but we know how to challenge their strengths and we are confident of getting a positive result tomorrow,’ she added.
Botes noted that the match presents a historic opportunity for both the team and women’s football in Uganda.
‘It is a huge opportunity for all of us and for women’s football in Uganda. The belief is there and we are managing the pressure and expectations well. We want to become the first Uganda women’s national team to qualify for the World Cup,’ she stated.
Team captain Agnes Nabukenya also expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness ahead of the match.
‘The players are ready. We have had very good training sessions and today we completed our final one with everyone in good condition. All the players are fit, motivated, and ready to give their best. Our focus is on delivering tomorrow. We call upon Ugandans to come and support us in big numbers,’ Nabukenya said.
The aggregate winner over the two legs will qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026.
The tie will be decided on aggregate score, with the away goals rule applied if necessary. A penalty shoot-out will determine the winner should the teams remain level after both legs.
